Moonflower (Ipomoea Bona Nox), from the Flowers series for Old Judge Cigarettes 1890

This small chromolithograph of a moonflower was made by Goodwin & Company in the United States, as part of a series of flower images intended as collectible inserts for Old Judge Cigarettes. These cigarette cards were immensely popular at the end of the 19th century and are part of the history of advertising, but also of printmaking and collecting. In an era before widespread color photography, the cards brought vibrant images into everyday life. These were often organized into series - flowers, birds, famous people, and scenes from around the world - as a way to encourage ongoing brand loyalty through collecting. Art historians find meaning in unexpected places. Studying an image like this can offer insights into the visual culture and the marketing strategies of its time. What did it mean to associate the pleasure of smoking with images of natural beauty? Examining related trade catalogs, company records, and advertising archives can help answer such questions.