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

This 1887 lithograph, "Rotterdam, from the City Flags series (N6) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands," depicts the flag of Rotterdam, Netherlands. The design showcases the city's coat of arms with the city flag flying in the wind. Allen & Ginter produced this card as a promotional item for their brand of cigarettes. It is an example of trade cards, a popular form of advertising in the late 19th century. The image includes a small cityscape that alludes to the city of Rotterdam. The card, which is housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, is a colorful example of chromolithography, a printing process that uses multiple colors to create detailed images.