Member, Gymnastic Society, French Army, 1886, from the Military Series (N224) issued by Kinney Tobacco Company to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes 1888

This chromolithograph, created by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company, was part of a series of collectible cards produced to promote Sweet Caporal cigarettes. Depicting a member of the French Army's Gymnastic Society, the card showcases a soldier in uniform, holding a staff, and wearing a red sash. The card’s inscription, “Illust’d Sweet Caporal Member Gymnastic Society, French Army, 1886,” highlights the subject's role and the date, offering insight into the contemporary military culture. The Metropolitan Museum of Art houses this small, yet historically significant card, a testament to the use of popular culture to advertise and promote products in the late nineteenth century.