Order of the Iron Crown, Austria, from the Military Series (N224) issued by Kinney Tobacco Company to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes 1888

This is an advertisement trading card for Sweet Caporal Cigarettes, made by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company. The card depicts the Order of the Iron Crown of Austria. The design employs symmetry to convey power and stability. The Austrian coat of arms is placed centrally and is vertically stacked to create a balanced visual hierarchy. The image’s structure leads the eye from the elaborate crown at the top, down to the double-headed eagle, a symbol of imperial authority, and finally to the Iron Crown itself at the base. Note the interplay between the gold and blue tones, which adds a sense of depth and richness to the card. The symmetry and heraldic imagery create an impression of tradition, while the card format reflects the rise of consumer culture. The Iron Crown becomes a commodity, aligning nobility with mass-produced goods. This tension reveals a blending of aristocratic and capitalist values in late 19th-century society.