Wyoming, from Flags of the States and Territories (N11) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands 1888

Editor: So, this is "Wyoming, from Flags of the States and Territories," printed around 1888 by Allen & Ginter, using etching and other graphic arts. It's a cigarette card, surprisingly enough. I'm struck by the romanticized, almost dreamlike, quality of the scene—all muted tones and that elaborate flag design. What catches your eye? Curator: Well, isn't it a jewel! I’m instantly pulled into the collision of cultural touchstones; a dash of Ukiyo-e landscape style, coupled with those almost aggressively western symbols—the weaponry on the shield...it’s as if they’re shouting, "We’ve arrived, and we're here to stay!" All printed to be included with cigarettes? It feels almost like a dare. What do you make of that strange tension between refinement and… well, tobacco? Editor: That’s a good point about the Ukiyo-e influence, I can totally see that now. It's fascinating how different cultures are blended in what seems to be advertising! It seems almost anachronistic. It also appears a little... violent for an advertisement. Is it trying to communicate a certain rugged image? Curator: Exactly! This was, of course, a time of enormous territorial expansion and "Manifest Destiny" thinking. Consider how Allen & Ginter used art to sell an idea. The picture promises adventure and, as you said, a rugged experience. But perhaps it also whispers something deeper. Does that motto under the shield pique your interest? "Oedant arma togae"—"Let arms yield to the toga." Editor: "Let arms yield to the toga," Huh! Almost contradictory given the gun on the emblem itself. Is that irony, or is it… propaganda, pure and simple? Curator: A potent cocktail of both, perhaps. It’s promoting this state in a unique way, trying to sell the public, literally and figuratively, on a grand and somewhat contradictory American narrative. Think about how these little things entered homes, pockets and perhaps consciousness itself. Quite a clever and maybe subversive marketing strategy for the time, isn't it? Editor: Definitely! I never would've considered how much cultural weight these little cards carried. It is a fascinating peek into how even mundane items can reveal larger cultural trends. Curator: Agreed, a powerful lesson that art, in any form, often reflects more than just aesthetics, don't you think?