Sub-Lieutenant, Royal Navy, England, 1869, from the Military Series (N224) issued by Kinney Tobacco Company to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes 1888

This small card, made by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company in 1869, was created to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes. It is a chromolithograph, a printing process that allows for multiple colors to be applied, creating a vivid image. The process involves creating a series of lithographic stones, one for each color, which are then printed in succession. The result here is a flat, graphic image, yet still capable of capturing the details of the Sub-Lieutenant's uniform, from the gold buttons to the trim on his hat. The card itself is a product of industrialization. Mass-produced and widely distributed, it reflects the growing consumer culture of the late 19th century. The card served a dual purpose: to advertise cigarettes and to offer a collectible image of military figures. In this way, the production of this small card is tied to wider social issues of labor, politics, and consumption, blurring the lines between commerce, art, and social identity.