Queen's Guard, Spain, 1853, from the Military Series (N224) issued by Kinney Tobacco Company to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes 1888

This chromolithograph of a Queen's Guard in Spain, dated to 1853, was made by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company. It’s a promotional insert for Sweet Caporal Cigarettes, and printed on a small rectangle of paper using a then-innovative method involving multiple colors. The image itself has a remarkable crispness and clarity, achieved by layering different lithographic stones, each carrying a different color. This form of mass production was a novelty at the time. The material quality of the card belies its function as an advertisement, meant to be collected and traded. The manufacturing process speaks to the rise of consumer culture in the late 19th century. These cards were essentially miniature artworks, and served to create brand recognition through the circulation of appealing imagery. Despite their modest origins, they exemplify how art and commerce have become intertwined in the modern era, blurring the boundaries between fine art and the ephemera of everyday life.