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

This chromolithograph depicts the flag of Japan, a white field with a large red circle, waving on a flagpole against a blue background. The flag was included in the "Flags of All Nations" series of cards produced by Allen & Ginter in 1887 to be included in packages of their brand of cigarettes. The card, measuring only 2 3/4 x 1 1/2 inches, is part of a larger collection of trade cards that illustrate the flags of different nations at a time when the world was becoming increasingly interconnected. The image was likely intended to educate the public about international flags, including the flag of Japan, which was rapidly becoming an important player on the world stage.