Order of St. John, Holy See, from the World's Decorations series (N30) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1890

This is a lithograph of the Order of St. John, Holy See, made by Allen & Ginter for a series of cigarette cards. It was one of many such series produced in the United States during the late 19th century. The image depicts a Maltese cross surmounted by a crown, symbols laden with historical and cultural significance. The Order of St. John is a Christian organization with roots in the medieval Crusades. It evokes the long history of the Catholic Church, as well as the institutions of European monarchy and nobility. The fleur-de-lis on the cross arms is another symbol with associations to the French monarchy. It is important to remember that images like this do not appear in a vacuum; rather, they reflect and reinforce hierarchies. Cigarette cards were designed to be collected, and the act of collecting itself was a way of organizing and classifying the world. To learn more, investigate popular magazines, newspapers, and trade publications from the period. These can reveal how Americans viewed the world and their place in it.