France, from Flags of All Nations, Series 1 (N9) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands 1887

This is an image of France’s flag from the “Flags of All Nations” series, created by Allen & Ginter for cigarette brands. The card presents a composition of the French flag set against a fleur-de-lis patterned background, evoking a sense of historical and heraldic significance. The tricolor—red, white, and blue—is rendered with attention to texture, which contrasts with the flat, stylized lilies. These lilies sit on a field of green, which can feel somewhat claustrophobic given the density of the marks. This small card reflects late 19th-century commercial art, where national symbols were often employed to promote products. Here, the flag functions as a signifier of French identity, strategically used within a capitalist structure to enhance the appeal of Allen & Ginter cigarettes. The juxtaposition of the fleur-de-lis, a symbol of the French monarchy, alongside the revolutionary tricolor, also subtly hints at the complex history of France and the tensions between tradition and change. The very act of reducing a nation to a collectible card prompts us to consider the nature of representation and how cultural symbols are circulated and consumed.