Private, 1st Light Infantry, Providence, Rhode Island, from the Military Series (N224) issued by Kinney Tobacco Company to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes 1888

This 1888 trade card, part of a series produced by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company to promote their Sweet Caporal cigarettes, depicts a Private of the 1st Light Infantry, Providence, Rhode Island. The card features a detailed illustration of the soldier in full uniform, standing at attention with a rifle in hand. The design, rendered in a crisp and clear style, showcases the meticulous attention to detail characteristic of late 19th-century trade card art. These cards were widely distributed and enjoyed by collectors of the time, offering a glimpse into the world of military service and the burgeoning tobacco industry. The card's small size and vibrant colors made it an easily collectible and highly desirable item for consumers. This particular card is currently housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.