Billfold, from the Novelties series (N228, Type 3) issued by Kinney Bros. 1889

This is a "trade card" - a type of advertisement, specifically for Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company in 1889. The card depicts a woman’s face peeking out of a billfold, likely to represent the “novelties” Kinney Bros. offered with their tobacco products. These cards were likely distributed with tobacco products in an effort to increase brand recognition. The card’s small size and simple design were meant for mass production and consumption. The use of color lithography, a popular printing method of the time, was used to create a realistic image of the woman. Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company, which was headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, was one of the most popular tobacco companies in the United States in the late 19th century.