Montbars, Fight with Spanish Men-of-War, from the Pirates of the Spanish Main series (N19) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1886 - 1891

This 19th-century chromolithograph, "Montbars, Fight with Spanish Men-of-War," from the "Pirates of the Spanish Main" series for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes, depicts the famed French pirate François Montbars. The image features a dramatic profile portrait of Montbars, adorned with a vibrant pink hat and a prominent goatee, set against a backdrop of his fierce naval battle with Spanish warships. The illustration, likely created for the popular trading cards included with Allen & Ginter cigarettes, captures the romanticism and notoriety surrounding pirates of the era.