Coat of Arms, Brazil, from the Military Series (N224) issued by Kinney Tobacco Company to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes 1888

This is "Coat of Arms, Brazil" from the Military Series, a lithograph issued by Kinney Tobacco Company around 1888 to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes. These cards were collected and traded, reflecting the rise of mass consumer culture and global interest in military power. Consider that this image circulated at a time when Brazil had only recently abolished slavery, and was transitioning from monarchy to republic. The coat of arms, with its crown, cross, and European-style heraldry, is a potent symbol of imperial power. This imagery can seem jarring, given Brazil’s history of colonization, slavery, and the ongoing struggle for equality. The card performs a dance of cultural representation, appropriating national symbols for commercial gain. It presents an idealized vision of Brazil, glossing over the complexities of its social fabric. It invites us to reflect on how identity is constructed, commodified, and consumed in a globalized world. What does it mean to collect and trade images that carry such heavy historical weight?