U.S.S. Baltimore, from the Naval Vessels of the World series (N226) issued by Kinney Bros. 1889

This color lithograph of the U.S.S. Baltimore was made by Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company, as part of their Naval Vessels of the World series. Made in the late nineteenth century, this collectible cigarette card reflects a period of American expansionism and burgeoning industrial power. The image itself, with its detailed rendering of the warship and prominent display of the American flag, evokes a sense of national pride and military might. The Kinney Brothers, by distributing these cards, tapped into and reinforced this sentiment, associating their product with the symbols of American power and progress. The choice of subject matter and the mode of distribution reveal a calculated effort to appeal to consumers' patriotic sensibilities. To truly understand this image, we need to look at sources from the period: advertisements, newspapers, and government documents can all shed light on the cultural meanings attached to images of naval power. This artwork serves as a reminder that even seemingly innocuous images can be powerful tools in shaping public opinion.