Saint Michael and Saint George, Great Britain, from the World's Decorations series (N44) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1890

This is a promotional card for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes, from their 'World's Decorations' series, picturing the insignia for the British Order of St Michael and St George. The late 19th century saw a boom in cigarette card production. Manufactured in the United States, this card indexes a very specific image of British Imperial power for an American audience. The Order of St Michael and St George was associated with diplomatic service and service in British territories overseas, so it represents a certain kind of global ambition and reach. On the card, the prominent display of the royal crown, the image of St. George, and the British lion and Irish harp in the corners, all act as visual codes of British national identity. Historians consult sources like trade journals, company archives, and popular culture ephemera to understand images like this within their full social context. The imagery of this cigarette card, in short, tells us a lot about how political and economic power was perceived, consumed, and circulated at this moment in time.