U.S. Despatch Boat Dolphin, from the Naval Vessels of the World series (N226) issued by Kinney Bros. 1889

This small chromolithograph, made by Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company, depicts the U.S. Despatch Boat Dolphin, part of their Naval Vessels of the World series. These cards were collected and traded, acting as miniature displays of national pride and technological advancement, and were a popular marketing tool in late 19th-century America, a period marked by rapid industrialization and overseas expansion. The U.S. Navy was expanding, too, and this card reflects a moment when the navy was modernizing, transitioning from sail to steam power, as we see both technologies represented here. The image creates meaning through a combination of visual codes like the prominent American flag, cultural references to naval power, and historical associations with exploration and trade. Understanding this artwork involves looking at the history of American marketing and naval power at the turn of the century, using resources like trade publications, naval archives, and social histories of consumer culture. The meaning of art is always contingent on its historical context.