Musketeer, France, 17th Century, from the Military Series (N224) issued by Kinney Tobacco Company to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes 1888

This lithograph of a French musketeer from the 17th century was created by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company as part of a series to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes. Tobacco cards like this one were originally designed to stiffen cigarette packs, but quickly became a popular collectable item, revealing the intersection of commerce and cultural imagery in the late 19th century. The image presents an idealized vision of military prowess. Yet, it is important to consider the context in which it was consumed: a rapidly industrializing America, grappling with issues of class, immigration, and racial inequality. The figure of the musketeer, with his ornamented uniform, may have served as a symbol of European sophistication or an aspirational figure amidst the socio-economic changes of the time. Consider the complex interplay of cultural fantasies, consumerism, and historical narratives embedded in this small card. It raises questions about how we construct identities through the objects we consume.