Turkey, from the National Flags series (N195) issued by Wm. S. Kimball & Co. 1891

Editor: Here we have "Turkey, from the National Flags series," printed in 1891 by Wm. S. Kimball & Co. It looks like a print, perhaps even a drawing, and was originally part of a series of national flags on tobacco cards. It's a fairly straightforward depiction, though the flag itself feels less celebratory and more... commercial. What do you make of this piece? Curator: The waving red banner of Turkey, complete with the iconic crescent and star, immediately grabs the eye. But the flag's purpose here is not merely symbolic. It’s juxtaposed with an advertisement for 'Hard Tack Cut Plug' tobacco. Consider the symbolic weight of the flag, traditionally representing national identity and pride, now inextricably linked to a commodity. Does that change how you read the symbol itself? Editor: I see what you mean. It definitely changes the tone, cheapens it a bit perhaps? It’s not just about Turkey; it’s about selling tobacco. Curator: Precisely. Think about the layers of meaning here. A nation's symbol, condensed onto a tiny card, distributed with a product promising leisure and perhaps addiction. The red itself could signify both the nation and… well, even the fire of consumption. What associations does that draw up? Editor: It does bring to mind how national symbols can be co-opted. What seems patriotic on the surface can easily be a tool for promoting other agendas. I’ll definitely look at symbols differently now. Curator: It is precisely this subtle yet persuasive combination of cultural imagery and commercial intent that reveals much about how we perceive nations, and, how brands try to weave into national consciousness. Food for thought!