J.M. Bundy, New York Mail and Express, from the American Editors series (N1) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands 1887

This small card depicting J.M. Bundy of the New York Mail and Express was made as an advertising insert for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes. It's an early example of chromolithography, a printing process that uses multiple lithographic stones, one for each color, to create a colorful image. The creation of these cards was no small feat. Each color required a separate stone, and meticulous registration was needed to ensure the final image aligned correctly. This labor-intensive process reflects the burgeoning mass production of the late 19th century. Think about it: an everyday object, a cigarette, becomes a vehicle for art, or at least, an image. This card isn't just about J.M. Bundy; it's about the industrial processes that made it possible, and the culture of consumption that drove its production. It reminds us that even the smallest, most seemingly insignificant objects can tell us a great deal about the society that created them, blurring the boundaries between art, advertising, and everyday life.