U.S. Sloop Alert, from the Naval Vessels of the World series (N226) issued by Kinney Bros. 1889

This chromolithograph, "U.S. Sloop Alert," was created in 1889 by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company as part of their "Naval Vessels of the World" series. The card depicts the U.S.S. Alert, a sloop-of-war, in full sail, with a small American flag flying from its bow. This image is an example of trade cards, which were commonly used in the late 19th century by companies to advertise their products. The Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company, known for their "High Class Cigarettes," used these cards to promote their brand.