Officer, 5th Artillery, Massachusetts, V.M., from the Military Series (N224) issued by Kinney Tobacco Company to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes 1888

This chromolithograph, printed by Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company in the late nineteenth century, depicts an officer of the Massachusetts Volunteer Militia. The card was one of a series of collectible ephemera included in packs of Sweet Caporal Cigarettes. These cards offer insight into the complex relationship between commerce, patriotism, and popular culture during the period after the American Civil War. As the United States sought to rebuild and redefine itself, symbols of national pride and military strength became potent marketing tools. The image creates meaning through visual codes such as the officer's formal salute, neatly trimmed mustache, and carefully tailored uniform, all referencing an idealized vision of military service and national unity. Understanding this image requires us to consider the social conditions that shaped its production and reception. By examining sources, such as period newspapers, advertisements, and military records, we can better understand the cultural values and anxieties that underpinned its creation.