Officer, Chicago Zouaves, Illinois Militia, from the Military Series (N224) issued by Kinney Tobacco Company to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes 1888

This chromolithograph was produced by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company as a promotional insert for Sweet Caporal Cigarettes. At just a few inches in size, the card depicts an officer of the Chicago Zouaves, a Civil War-era militia known for its colorful uniforms and close-order drill. The card is made through chromolithography, a printing technique that uses multiple lithographic stones, each applying a different color ink. Look closely, and you’ll see the subtle layering of hues that gives depth to the officer's coat and the gleam to his sword. This process was crucial to mass-producing affordable color images, fueling the rise of advertising and consumer culture. Consider the labor involved: from the artists who created the original design, to the workers operating the printing presses, and those packaging the cigarettes. These small cards were powerful tools in shaping public perception, linking military heroism to the pleasures of tobacco, while concealing the labor required for its production and circulation.