George Abel, The Baltimore Sun, from the American Editors series (N1) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands 1887

This small card depicting George Abel of the Baltimore Sun newspaper was printed by Allen & Ginter, a cigarette company. It’s chromolithography – a now-obsolete printing technique using multiple lithographic stones, one for each color. Consider that this image comes from a set called "American Editors," inserted into cigarette packs as a collectible. It’s an early example of promotional marketing, where a portrait of a prominent individual is included to encourage customer loyalty and brand recognition. The choice of chromolithography allowed for mass production, and also speaks to the rise of consumer culture in the late 19th century. The technique also gave a vibrancy to the colours, and it would have taken a lot of labor and skill to get it right. The card shows the convergence of media, advertising, and consumerism, blurring the boundaries between art, commerce, and popular culture.