Order of the Crown of Oak, Luxembourg, from the World's Decorations series (N44) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1890

This is a collectible card from the late 19th century by Allen & Ginter Cigarettes, depicting the Order of the Crown of Oak from Luxembourg. These cards, like many promotional items of the era, were tools of empire, designed to spark interest in foreign lands and cultures. The Order of the Crown of Oak itself, awarded by the monarchy, speaks to the hierarchies of power and prestige. Medals are weighty objects and symbols; who gets them, who makes them, and who is excluded from the honor? As a commodity, these cards were consumed by a growing middle class, eager to participate in a world that was opening up through trade and colonialism. Yet, at what cost did this expansion come? While gazing at this image, consider the layers of representation and the complex histories embedded within a simple piece of cardstock. What stories remain untold?