Nevada, from Flags of the States and Territories (N11) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands 1888

This small chromolithograph, printed by Allen & Ginter, was once packaged with cigarettes. The image shows a flag of Nevada set against a landscape. The immediate purpose of the card was promotional, and the company sought to burnish its brand through association with patriotic themes. But the image is also interesting for what it tells us about the landscape of the state, including ranching, agriculture, and mining. These industries are compressed into a single image, reflecting how profoundly Nevada's economy was shaped by extraction, and the labor of many people. Consider the processes that enabled the making of this image: from the harvesting of materials for the paper and ink, to the labor of the artists and printers who created the image. It is a testament to the power of commercial imagery, and the complex relationship between commerce and national identity.