Sir Henry Morgan, Capture of Panama, from the Pirates of the Spanish Main series (N19) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1886 - 1891

Curator: Ah, yes, here we have "Sir Henry Morgan, Capture of Panama," a colored pencil drawing from the "Pirates of the Spanish Main" series by Allen & Ginter, dating back to 1886-1891. Quite a mouthful, isn’t it? Editor: The first thing that jumps out is the sheer... swagger! He practically leaps off the card, all beady-eyed and self-assured while his raggedy-looking men struggle in the background. I love it! Curator: I always found these trade cards so fascinating. They served as advertisements tucked into cigarette packs, turning historical figures into miniature collectibles. This image, specifically, portrays Morgan not as a brutal marauder but as some swashbuckling hero, a cunning leader capturing Panama. Editor: And conveniently skipping over the less palatable aspects of colonialism and rampant piracy! We’re looking at a prime example of myth-making, right? Celebrating someone who, let’s be honest, terrorized entire populations for personal gain. The audacity of it is actually hilarious. Curator: Precisely. But also note the technique. The way they used colored pencil to create these soft, almost impressionistic effects... it’s lovely, isn't it? They’ve managed to distill an epic narrative down to this single, somewhat dreamy scene. Look how soft the cityscape in the back appears, not in opposition to Morgan himself. Editor: It’s definitely striking. And it really plays into that romanticized view of piracy. We almost forget the violence, the exploitation. It's a powerful manipulation of perspective, designed to make you want to buy, well, cigarettes! Which seems wildly irresponsible, by our modern standards. Curator: Indeed! What strikes me, though, is that these images circulated so widely, shaping popular perceptions of history. It begs the question: how much of our understanding of historical figures is actually rooted in propaganda, dressed up as entertainment? Editor: And how many Morgans are we still mythologizing today? That’s what art like this compels us to confront, that these narratives shape our present too. Makes you think, doesn’t it? About who we choose to celebrate and, more importantly, why. Curator: It really does, thank you! Well, something about all of this has stirred up my pirate blood… Next time it’s your treat, haha. Editor: Sounds fair. And remember: question everything! Even cute cigarette cards…