Egypt, from Flags of All Nations, Series 1 (N9) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands 1887

This is 'Egypt, from Flags of All Nations, Series 1 (N9) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands,' a late 19th-century chromolithograph trading card. At first glance, the vibrant red flag emblazoned with a crescent moon dominates the composition, immediately catching the eye. This bold color contrasts with the more subdued hues of the pyramids and desert landscape in the background. Structurally, the image is divided into distinct layers, the flag itself and the architectural border suggesting a tension between the foreground and background elements. This tension introduces a semiotic game—a negotiation between national identity, represented by the flag, and the timeless, iconic landscape of Egypt. The card's appeal lies in its juxtaposition of these layers, prompting a reading of how cultural symbols are framed and marketed. The visual language is a product of its time, reflecting an Orientalist perspective through its simplification and romanticization of Egyptian identity. The rigid border and the gently waving flag create a feeling of a civilization being captured, controlled and contained within a frame.