Kansas, from Flags of the States and Territories (N11) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands 1888

This small chromolithograph, "Kansas, from Flags of the States and Territories," was made by Allen & Ginter, a cigarette brand, in the late 19th century. Chromolithography is a color printing technique, enabling mass production. Consider the social context: this card was included in cigarette packs, a commercial product, and served as a collectible item. The depiction of Kansas is idealized, and the image romanticizes labor. The flag bears the state motto, "Ad Astra Per Aspera" or "To the stars through hardship," and the flag is adorned with an image of a farmer plowing with oxen. Below, cattle graze in a pastoral landscape. The card presents a vision of the American West that ties together progress, labor, and westward expansion. The labor of farmers and ranchers is linked to the idea of upward mobility and the promise of the West. The card is a small piece of commercial ephemera, yet it reflects larger themes of labor, consumption, and national identity.