Queen of England, from World's Sovereigns series (N34) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1889

This is a chromolithograph of Queen Victoria from the "World's Sovereigns" series, crafted by Allen & Ginter for their cigarettes. These cards, distributed with tobacco products, reveal much about the era's cultural values and the construction of identity. As a collectible, it speaks to the Victorian obsession with empire, power and celebrity. Queen Victoria, a symbol of British imperial might, is presented here not just as a monarch, but as a marketable icon. Consider how gender and power intersect in this image. Victoria, a woman leading a vast empire, defies conventional gender roles, yet is still portrayed within a framework of traditional regal imagery. The very act of including her in a series promoting cigarettes—a product enjoyed primarily by men—complicates our understanding of gender dynamics in the late 19th century. It invites us to reflect on the complex interplay of gender, power, and consumer culture in shaping perceptions of leadership and identity.