Etna, Italy, from the Famous Ships series (N50) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1895

This small card, "Etna, Italy, from the Famous Ships series," was made by Allen & Ginter, and distributed with Virginia Brights Cigarettes. These cards were immensely popular in the late 19th century, a time of burgeoning industrialization and global exploration. The image depicts the Italian warship "Etna," a symbol of national pride and military might. But let's think about this through an intersectional lens; while celebrating technological advancement, what was the human cost of imperialism and colonialism propped up by these military vessels? What were the experiences of the colonized, and what kind of human labor was involved? Moreover, consider the nature of consumer culture: this card, packaged with cigarettes, subtly links ideas of luxury, leisure, and perhaps even power.