Jewel of the Garter, Great Britain, from the World's Decorations series (N44) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1890

This is "Jewel of the Garter, Great Britain," a lithograph created by Allen & Ginter, part of the "World's Decorations" series for their cigarette cards. The image presents a heraldic emblem, dominated by a knight on horseback slaying a dragon. The composition emphasizes symmetry, with decorative floral patterns flanking the central image. The color palette is soft, using pastel shades to create an idealized, almost dreamlike quality. Here we see a formal representation that reflects the values of the British Empire. The knight is poised and resolute, and the dragon writhing beneath the horse's hooves symbolizes the triumph over perceived enemies. The emblem's symmetry can be interpreted as a reflection of the structured order the Empire sought to impose. Notice also how the soft colors and precise lines create an aesthetic experience but also uphold a hierarchy of power and civilization. The very form and structure of this cigarette card, therefore, becomes a signifier of cultural codes, inviting us to interpret and reinterpret its meanings within our own contemporary context.