Turkey, from the Types of All Nations series (N24) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1889

Allen & Ginter Cigarettes produced this lithograph of a Turkish woman as part of their "Types of All Nations" series. Note the star at the bottom, a symbol laden with celestial and earthly aspirations. The star, a motif spanning millennia, first guided Mesopotamian kings, then shone on Renaissance banners. Here, nestled on a cigarette card, it evokes both the exotic allure of Turkey and America's own rising star on the world stage. Consider its evolution. From ancient skies to modern brands, it carries the weight of ambition, and a yearning for the heavens. The star reflects a deep-seated desire for guidance and greatness, a psychoanalytic echo across cultures. Through this humble card, we see how images traverse time, adapting, and accumulating layers of meaning as they go. The past is never truly gone; it flickers within the present.