Municipal Guard, French Army, 1886, from the Military Series (N224) issued by Kinney Tobacco Company to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes 1888

This small chromolithograph was made in 1886 by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes. It depicts a member of the French Municipal Guard. These cards were part of a larger trend in the late 19th century where tobacco companies used collectible cards to boost sales. This image visualizes the power and authority of the French state, a concept easily digested and collected by consumers. France in 1886 was a nation grappling with its identity after the Franco-Prussian War and the Paris Commune. The Municipal Guard, responsible for maintaining order in urban centers, was a key symbol of state control. The card’s military series subtly reinforced the idea of national strength and order, aligning the brand with patriotic values. To understand this image better, historians might consult archives of advertising ephemera, military records, and social histories of France during the Third Republic. This would shed light on the complex interplay between commerce, national identity, and institutional power.