They've Turned the Light-Ship Homeward Bound..., from the Magic Changing Cards series (N223) issued by Kinney Tobacco Company 1889

This small card was made by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company, sometime around the late 19th century, as part of a series of collectible “magic changing cards.” Printed on thin paper stock, the image shows a man with a telescope, gazing out to sea. The simple printing process, probably lithography, allowed for mass production and widespread distribution. These cards were essentially advertisements, slipped into packs of cigarettes, and reflect the rise of consumer culture at the time. Despite its humble origins, this card offers insight into the social life of the era. It demonstrates how images and information were disseminated, and the close relationship between industry and everyday life. The use of "low" material like paper, combined with industrial printing techniques, democratized art, bringing images into the hands of ordinary people. It’s a reminder that value can be found even in the most unassuming of objects.