Rotterdam, from the City Flags series (N6) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands 1887

This small card, "Rotterdam," was produced by Allen & Ginter for their cigarette brands, part of a series depicting city flags. It's worth pausing to consider the cultural context of such an object. In the late 19th century, mass-produced cards like these, inserted into cigarette packs, were immensely popular. They offered a glimpse into the wider world, fueling curiosity about different places and cultures. Notice how the flag of Rotterdam, with its bold green and white stripes, dominates the image, while a vignette of the city's architecture sits below. The company, Allen & Ginter, based in Richmond, Virginia, tells us something about the economic landscape of the time. What’s the relationship between tobacco consumption, mass media, and popular understandings of the world? These are the questions a social historian might ask. Further research into Allen & Ginter's production practices and the circulation of these cards would provide more insight into the relationship between commerce, visual culture, and the construction of a global worldview in the 19th century.