James Watt, printer's sample for the World's Inventors souvenir album (A25) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1888

This chromolithograph, created by Allen & Ginter in 1888, features a portrait of James Watt, a Scottish inventor renowned for his improvements to the steam engine. The card, a printer's sample for the "World's Inventors" souvenir album, exemplifies the popular trend of using trading cards to promote cigarettes. The close-up portrait showcases Watt in a formal setting, conveying his status as a respected inventor. This collectible card is part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection, highlighting the significance of trading cards in 19th-century popular culture and their value as historical artifacts.