5th Regiment Inf., Massachusetts, V.M., from the Military Series (N224) issued by Kinney Tobacco Company to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes 1888

This is a promotional card for Sweet Caporal Cigarettes, made by Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company, sometime in the late 19th century. It’s part of a series depicting different military regiments. This card features a member of the 5th Regiment Infantry of Massachusetts. These cards were made during a time of immense social and political change in the United States. Following the Civil War, the country was attempting to reconcile the ideals of freedom and equality with the realities of racial discrimination and economic disparity. What does it mean to see the figure of a uniformed soldier, an image of power and authority, packaged with a consumer product like cigarettes? How does it shape public perception of both the military and the act of consumption? The image offers a window into the complex interplay between commerce, patriotism, and identity in American culture. It invites us to consider the ways in which symbols of national pride are used to sell products, and how these representations reflect and shape our understanding of history and society.