Officer, 1st Regiment, Illinois, National Guard, from the Military Series (N224) issued by Kinney Tobacco Company to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes 1888

This lithograph, created by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company, depicts an officer from the 1st Regiment, Illinois National Guard. Here, the sword is not just a weapon, but a symbol of authority and readiness, echoing back to ancient depictions of military power. Consider, if you will, the sword’s likeness to a cross. Once a religious symbol, the cross now appears as a military one, not unlike the standards carried into battle since the times of the Roman Empire. But its significance shifts again. In our collective psyche, swords are not only symbols of power, but also tragic reminders of conflict. This image, mass-produced for cigarette cards, attempts to package bravery, yet the sword’s presence betrays the true weight of military service. The viewer cannot help but reflect on the cyclical dance between peace and war, ever-present in human history.