True Eagle, Missouria, from the American Indian Chiefs series (N36) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1888

This lithograph of True Eagle, a Missouria chief, was one of a series of American Indian chiefs printed by Allen & Ginter Cigarettes. These cards were included in cigarette packs as a promotional item, part of a broader marketing strategy in the late 19th century that used exoticized images of Indigenous peoples to sell tobacco. Note the stereotypical depictions of True Eagle and his cultural objects - bow and arrows, tomahawk - alongside his name and tribal affiliation. The images were meant to be visually striking and memorable, but they often reinforced harmful stereotypes and romanticized notions of Indigenous culture. The series reflects the social attitudes of the time, marked by westward expansion, the displacement of Native American tribes, and a fascination with "the exotic Other." For a deeper understanding of the cultural context, one could examine archival materials, historical documents, and scholarly research on the representation of Native Americans in popular culture.