Drum Major, France, 1853, from the Military Series (N224) issued by Kinney Tobacco Company to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes 1888

This chromolithograph, created by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company in 1888, is part of a series of trading cards promoting Sweet Caporal Cigarettes. The card depicts a Drum Major from the French military in 1853, standing at attention in full uniform. The card showcases detailed, vibrant imagery, characteristic of the chromolithographic printing process, and offers a glimpse into the fashionable attire of 19th-century military personnel, showcasing the intricate details of a Drum Major’s uniform. The card, part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection, is a valuable artifact of late-19th-century commercial art and cultural ephemera.