Card Number 1, cut-out from banner advertising the Opera Gloves series (G29) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1885 - 1895

This promotional card, made by Allen & Ginter for their cigarettes, is printed on thin paper stock, with chromolithography adding layers of color. As a mass-produced object, it speaks to the booming consumer culture of the late 19th century. Notice how the image cleverly promotes both the cigarettes and the "Opera Gloves" series. The glove, rendered in a dark, almost ominous tone, holds a portrait of a fashionable woman. This juxtaposition highlights the cultural currency of both products: smoking and stylish attire. The perforation, revealing "No. 1," suggests collectability, enticing consumers to purchase more cigarettes in pursuit of a complete set. Consider the labor involved in producing these cards: from the artists and engravers who created the images, to the factory workers who printed and packaged them. It is a reminder of the vast industrial machinery that fueled consumerism, blurring the lines between art, advertising, and everyday life.