Amerigo Vespucci, Italian Navy, from the Naval Vessels of the World series (N226) issued by Kinney Bros.

Art Historical Context

Step into the world of 19th-century collecting with this vibrant chromolithograph, *Amerigo Vespucci Italian Navy*, from Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company's *Naval Vessels of the* series (N226), issued in 1889. These petite cards—measuring just 2¾ × 1½ inches—were premium giveaways tucked into cigarette packs, sparking a collecting frenzy among enthusiasts eager to amass global naval might. Produced by the innovative Kinney Bros., they captured the era's fascination with maritime power during a time of imperial expansion and naval arms races. The artwork showcases the sleek Italian Navy vessel named for explorer Amerigo Vespucci, whose voyages helped map the New World. Rendered in vivid commercial color lithography—a technique that layered inks for rich, affordable hues—this ephemera print exemplifies mass-produced artistry. Its bold lines and patriotic tags like "Navy" and "Ships" highlight the ship's symbolic role in Italy's rising naval identity post-unification. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Jefferson R. Burdick Collection, this tiny treasure from the Drawings and Prints department reveals how everyday commerce fueled cultural education, blending tobacco promotion with historical pride. A delightful glimpse into Victorian-era hobbies!

About the Artist

Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company · 1869–2011

**Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company (1869–2011)** Founded around 1869 by Francis Sherwood Kinney in New York City, the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company quickly rose to prominence in the burgeoning American cigarette industry. Francis, a pioneering tobacco manufacturer, experimented with hand-rolled cigarettes using blends of Turkish and Virginia tobacco, scaling to mass production by employing Europ...