Bulgaria, from the Natives in Costume series (N16) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands 1886

This card, "Bulgaria, from the Natives in Costume series," was made by Allen & Ginter, a cigarette company based in Richmond, Virginia. This card is a chromolithograph, a color printing process popular in the late 19th century. It involves creating a series of lithographic stones or plates, each inked with a different color. The image is then built up layer by layer, resulting in a vibrant and detailed picture. The image depicts a man in traditional Bulgarian clothing. While the image seems straightforward, it’s important to remember its context. This card was included in cigarette packs as a promotional item, part of a larger trend of using collectible cards to boost sales. The production of these cards involved a division of labor, from the artists who created the original designs to the factory workers who operated the printing presses. Considering the relationship between art, commerce, and cultural representation helps us see the full picture, challenging our usual assumptions.