2nd Belooch Regiment, Ind. Conting't, England, 1879, from the Military Series (N224) issued by Kinney Tobacco Company to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes 1888

This lithograph, "2nd Belooch Regiment, Ind. Conting't, England, 1879," was printed by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company in 1888 to promote their Sweet Caporal Cigarettes. The card depicts a soldier of the 2nd Belooch Regiment, an infantry regiment in the British Indian Army, wearing a distinctive uniform with red trousers and a tall, black fur cap. The card is a prime example of trade cards, a form of advertising popular in the 19th century, and offers a glimpse into military fashion and colonial history. The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York houses this tiny yet detailed piece of visual history.