King of Spades, The German, from Harlequin Cards, 2nd Series (N220) issued by Kinney Bros. 1889

"King of Spades, The German," from the second series of Harlequin Cards issued by the Kinney Bros. Tobacco Company in 1889, is a playful take on the traditional playing card. This colorful lithograph depicts a caricature of a German man, sporting a crown, smoking a pipe, and tending to a flowerpot. The exaggerated features and humorous details are characteristic of the playful style often seen in late 19th-century tobacco cards, adding a touch of whimsy to the familiar figure of the King of Spades. This card, now part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art collection, exemplifies the popularity of tobacco-related ephemera in the late 19th century, providing a glimpse into the social and cultural context of the time.