Vesuvius, U.S.N., from the Famous Ships series (N50) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1895

This is a sepia-toned photograph of the *USS Vesuvius* from Allen & Ginter’s *Famous Ships* series of trading cards, printed in 1895. *Vesuvius* was a ship used in the U.S. Navy, and this card was likely intended to be distributed with packs of Virginia Brights Cigarettes. This image displays the ship in a harbor, with several other vessels in the background. The photograph is a realistic portrayal of the vessel and captures the detailed elements of its structure. This particular card is currently housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, New York. It is a great example of an early piece of American naval ephemera, and is an artifact of the American cigarette card craze of the late 19th century.