Coat of Arms, China, from the Military Series (N224) issued by Kinney Tobacco Company to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes 1888

This chromolithograph of China's coat of arms comes from a series of cigarette cards distributed by the Kinney Tobacco Company in the late 19th century. These cards, included in packs of Sweet Caporal cigarettes, reflect a Western fascination with and often a misrepresentation of foreign cultures. The image presents a fantastical dragon, a potent symbol in Chinese culture, emblazoned on a shield. Created in America, it's less a reflection of China itself and more a product of American commercial interests and cultural perceptions of the time. Notice how the inclusion of a spider web beneath the dragon associates China with decline and decay. The card's function was to promote a brand, but it also participated in the broader project of constructing and circulating ideas about China in the American imagination. Understanding this image requires us to look beyond its surface. We need to explore the history of American marketing, the rise of tobacco culture, and the complex relationship between the West and China during this period. Only then can we fully grasp its meaning and significance.