Order of St. James, Portugal, from the World's Decorations series (N30) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1890

This chromolithograph card by Allen & Ginter showcases the Order of St. James of Portugal, a symbol laden with historical weight. The red, sword-like cross immediately draws our attention, its design rooted in the Reconquista, where the order fought to expel the Moors from the Iberian Peninsula. Note how this cross, a symbol of faith and war, is framed by laurel wreaths, signaling victory and honor, motifs traceable back to ancient Greece and Rome. These symbols, like echoes from the collective unconscious, reappear across time. The cross, for instance, transcends its martial origins, becoming a universal emblem of sacrifice and redemption. This visual language, passed down through generations, affects us on a deep, primal level. Consider how these symbols, in their varied forms, continuously resurface, evolving yet retaining echoes of their past, in an endless dance of cultural memory.