Danish West Indies, from Flags of All Nations, Series 2 (N10) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands 1890

This is one of a series of collectible cards inserted into cigarette packs by Allen & Ginter, of Richmond, Virginia, a practice popular in the late 19th century. Here, the Danish flag flies above an image of local inhabitants navigating the waters in a catamaran. These cards tell us a lot about the social conditions that shape artistic production. They offered consumers a glimpse into a wider world, creating a sense of familiarity with foreign lands. At the same time, they subtly promoted imperialist ideologies by normalizing colonial power structures, using imagery to suggest Denmark’s influence over these islands. As an institution, Allen & Ginter reflects the economic structures of its time, as it profited from tobacco and expanded its brand through cultural diffusion. To understand this card better, we can research both the history of tobacco companies in the US and that of Danish colonialism in the West Indies.