General Admiral, Russia, from the Naval Flags series (N17) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands 1886 - 1891

This is a chromolithograph from the *Naval Flags* series of trade cards issued by Allen & Ginter, a prominent tobacco company in Richmond, Virginia. The card depicts the flag of the General Admiral of Russia, a white flag with a blue cross and the imperial double-headed eagle in the center. The flag is flown from a ship’s mast, against a background of a sunset and ocean. The cards were distributed with Allen & Ginter’s cigarette brands. This card is an example of *trade card art*, a form of advertising popular in the 19th century that often featured a variety of subjects, including flags, maps, and historical figures. This particular card is now part of the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.