Poniard, from the Arms of All Nations series (N3) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands 1887

This small chromolithograph of a man with a poniard was created by Allen & Ginter Cigarettes in the late nineteenth century. It was produced as one of a collectible series of cards. The image is a curious combination of history, commerce, and cultural projection. Consider how the figure's clothing, the castle in the background, and the weapon conjure a romantic vision of European history. At the time, brands were building symbolic associations between their products and other global commodities. Also, what kind of social and institutional conditions made this series possible? Think of the growth of advertising in a mass consumer society, new color printing technologies, and a global fascination with collecting. To understand this image better, you might investigate company records, the history of advertising, and the cultural impact of tobacco consumption. Ultimately, this small card shows us how cultural and institutional forces converge in the production of images.