John A. Roebling, printer's sample for the World's Inventors souvenir album (A25) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1888

This is John A. Roebling, printer's sample for the World's Inventors souvenir album, made by Allen & Ginter for their Cigarettes. Think about the world of the late 19th century. Here is a portrait of an inventor, one of the great men of industry, reduced to a collectible card that came with a pack of smokes. The sentimental, almost romantic representation of John A. Roebling invites us to consider the intersections of industry, consumer culture, and the construction of masculine identity. It speaks to the cultural elevation of inventors as figures of progress and ingenuity. The card transforms Roebling into a commodity, reflecting how personal stories can be consumed and commodified. This little card invites us to reflect on how society simultaneously celebrates and instrumentalizes individual achievement.