Joseph Medill, The Chicago Tribune, from the American Editors series (N35) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1887

This late-nineteenth-century cigarette card, made by Allen & Ginter, features Joseph Medill of The Chicago Tribune. These cards were chromolithographs, a printing process allowing for mass production of inexpensive color images. Just think about the immense labor involved in creating these small, ubiquitous objects. From the mining of pigments, to the skilled work of the printmakers, to the factory workers assembling and packaging the cigarettes. The card's design is divided into two sections: the Tribune building, and a portrait of Medill. Note the texture and the somewhat subdued palette; these were the qualities of early color printing. The image has a mundane quality which underscores its place in everyday commerce. So, the next time you light up, consider the complex systems of production and consumption that even the smallest object can represent. The image may seem like a disposable token, but it’s actually a window into the economic and social structures of its time.