General Scobeloff, from Leaders series (N222) issued by Kinney Bros. 1888

This is a chromolithograph of General Scobeloff, made by Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company in the late 19th century. Trading cards like this one were a common marketing tool, inserted into cigarette packs to encourage collecting and brand loyalty. But it is also a document of the social and political landscape of the time. Russia was expanding its empire, and figures like General Scobeloff were celebrated as national heroes, seen here in full military regalia, weighed down by medals and decorations. Below, he is represented leading his troops into battle. This card presents a romanticized and heroic view of military conquest. Historians can use sources such as period newspapers, military records, and even company archives to better understand the cultural context of this image, and what this card can tell us about attitudes toward war, nationalism, and empire in the late 1800s.