Captain, United States Navy, 1886, from the Military Series (N224) issued by Kinney Tobacco Company to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes 1888

This chromolithograph of a Captain in the United States Navy was produced in 1886 by Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company as a promotional item for Sweet Caporal Cigarettes. These cards were included in cigarette packs, part of a marketing strategy that reflects the economic expansion and consumer culture of the late 19th century United States. The image valorizes military service and the figure of the officer, whose uniform signifies status and authority in a rigidly hierarchical institution. The corporatization of the military as a way of promoting ideas about American power are on display here. The tobacco company thus played a role in shaping public perceptions of the Navy. To fully understand the social and cultural context of this image, historians might consult military archives, business records, and advertising ephemera. This will let us uncover the complex relationships between commerce, military institutions, and popular visual culture.