Edwin Cowles, The Cleveland Leader, from the American Editors series (N1) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands 1887

This chromolithograph card, part of the "American Editors" series produced by Allen & Ginter for their cigarette brand, features a portrait of Edwin Cowles, the founder of the Cleveland Leader newspaper. The card, which is a typical example of the trade cards of the period, was likely distributed to consumers along with packs of cigarettes. This specific card, printed in 1887, can be found today at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, New York. The card depicts Cowles in a formal pose, wearing a dark suit and a white shirt with a bow tie. His face is prominent and his beard is the focal point of the image.