Captain, Royal Horse Guards, Blue, England, 1879, from the Military Series (N224) issued by Kinney Tobacco Company to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes 1888

This colorful lithograph, created by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company in 1888, is a prime example of trade cards used to promote products in the late 19th century. Featuring a detailed depiction of a Captain in the Royal Horse Guards, the card was part of a series intended to promote Sweet Caporal cigarettes. The image captures the iconic uniform of the British military, showcasing a captain in full dress with his saber and tall, plumed helmet. The intricate detail and bold colors of the card are characteristic of the chromolithographic printing technique popular at the time. This piece serves as a visual record of both military fashion and advertising practices in the late 19th century. The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York currently houses this small but visually compelling artwork.