Captain, 7th Hussars, England, 1879, from the Military Series (N224) issued by Kinney Tobacco Company to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes 1888

This chromolithograph of a Captain in the 7th Hussars was made in England in 1879, as part of a series by the Kinney Tobacco Company to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes. The image depicts a British army officer in full ceremonial dress. The Hussars were a fashionable regiment, known for their elaborate uniforms and their role in maintaining order within the British Empire. The image is designed to appeal to consumers who aspire to the social status and military prowess that the officer represents. But beyond its face value, this trading card offers us a glimpse into the social history of the late 19th century. The mass production of images through new printing technologies created a visual culture saturated with ideals of empire and military might. Analysing such images helps us to understand the social and economic forces that shaped attitudes towards class, nation and military service. Historical research into advertising and commodity culture can further reveal the complex ways in which consumerism and visual imagery shaped social identities in this period.