Sergeant, 1st Battery, National Guard of the State of New York, 1887, from the Military Series (N224) issued by Kinney Tobacco Company to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes 1888

This chromolithograph, created by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company in 1888, is part of a series of cards promoting Sweet Caporal cigarettes. The artwork depicts a Sergeant from the 1st Battery of the National Guard of the State of New York, in full uniform and holding a sword. This example of trade card advertising highlights the popularity of tobacco products in 19th-century America and offers insight into the visual culture and military fashion of the time. This card, which is part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection, showcases the artistry of the Kinney Brothers and their ability to create visually engaging promotional materials that appealed to a wide audience.