William Purcell, The Rochester Union and Advertiser, from the American Editors series (N35) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1887

This small card of William Purcell, editor of the Rochester Union and Advertiser, was produced by the company Allen and Ginter, using lithography, a printing process, probably sometime in the late nineteenth century. It's one of a series of cards featuring American Editors, a set that was originally included in packages of Allen and Ginter cigarettes. Lithography allowed for mass production, tying it to the rise of consumer culture. The card, printed on paper, is divided into two parts: a portrait of William Purcell and an agricultural scene, referencing his hometown. The image is more than just a portrait, it's also a small artifact of American industry and culture. The cards were cheap and disposable, meant to be collected and traded. The inclusion of these cards in cigarette packs speaks to a society increasingly defined by consumption and leisure, where even a portrait of a newspaper editor could become a collectible item. It challenges our traditional notions of art, craft, and the everyday.