Happy New Year, from the New Years 1890 series (N227) issued by Kinney Bros. 1889 - 1890

This 1889-1890 "Happy New Year" card was created by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company, a popular brand in the late 19th century. This card, part of the “New Years 1890” series, is a whimsical illustration featuring a bee-like figure flying through the air while a smiling sun, wearing a blue suit and holding a tiny 1890 sign, is caught in a spider web. The card was likely included in a pack of Kinney Brothers cigarettes as a promotional giveaway and is a great example of the popular trade cards used by tobacco companies in the late 19th century.