Victoria, from Flags of All Nations, Series 2 (N10) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands 1890

This is Victoria, from Flags of All Nations, Series 2, a lithograph created by Allen & Ginter for their cigarette brand. These cards were inserted into cigarette packs, combining commerce with cultural imagery from around the globe. The flag of Victoria, Australia, features the Union Jack, a symbol of British colonial power, and a badge displaying the Southern Cross, a constellation visible in the Southern Hemisphere. This flag reflects a moment in time when European imperial projects were expanding across the globe. Consider this image in relation to its function: a small card included in a product associated with leisure and status. It’s easy to overlook the histories of colonization, resource extraction, and labor exploitation that underpin not only the image itself, but also the cigarette industry. What feelings does it evoke to realize that such an image, with all its imperialist undertones, was once casually collected?