Private, Hawkins Zouaves, 9th Regiment, New York Vet., from the Military Series (N224) issued by Kinney Tobacco Company to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes 1888

This chromolithograph is a trade card from the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company’s "Military Series" that was produced in 1888 to promote their Sweet Caporal Cigarettes. The card depicts a Zouave soldier of the 9th New York Regiment, a unit that fought in the American Civil War. The card showcases the Zouave’s distinct uniform, including the fez, which is a traditional headwear originating from North Africa. The card is a fascinating example of 19th-century marketing and its use of visual imagery. The company capitalized on the romanticized image of the Civil War, featuring soldiers in their iconic attire and playing on the widespread popularity of tobacco at the time. The card exemplifies the historical significance of collecting trade cards and their value in understanding the marketing and visual culture of the late 19th-century. The original chromolithograph is currently housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.