Howell Davis, Taking a Dutch Treasure Ship, from the Pirates of the Spanish Main series (N19) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1886 - 1891

Allen & Ginter created this small chromolithograph trading card, “Howell Davis, Taking a Dutch Treasure Ship,” as part of a series included in cigarette packs. This image offers a romanticized view of piracy, a practice deeply entangled with the transatlantic slave trade and colonial exploitation. Howell Davis, the pirate, is shown as a confident, almost heroic figure, obscuring the violence and coercion inherent in his actions. These cards were circulated at a time when the narratives of adventure and conquest often overshadowed the brutal realities of maritime history. What does it mean to collect and trade images that celebrate figures who profited from colonial systems? The card invites us to consider how popular culture can sanitize and repackage historical events, shaping public perception and perpetuating harmful myths. Think about the stories we tell, and the ones we leave out.