Venezuela, from Flags of All Nations, Series 1 (N9) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands 1887

This late nineteenth-century lithograph, printed by Allen & Ginter for their cigarette brand, displays the flag of Venezuela alongside an idyllic scene of industry. The flag itself, a bold tricolor of yellow, blue, and red, features seven stars representing the provinces that declared independence from Spain. Consider the symbolic weight of stars; throughout history, they have appeared in countless contexts from the heavens in ancient mythologies, to emblems of divine guidance, and national identity. Think of the star-spangled banner of the United States, or the stars adorning the crowns of monarchs, each carries a constellation of meanings, shaped by the cultural and historical forces. Here, these stars invoke not just regional pride but also a deep-seated yearning for freedom, a collective aspiration echoed across cultures and generations. This card, seemingly a simple commercial item, captures the powerful, ever-evolving nature of symbols and their indelible mark on the human psyche.