Bordeaux, from the City Flags series (N6) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands

Art Historical Context

Step into the vibrant world of 19th-century advertising with *Bordeaux, from the Flags series (N6 for Allen & Ginterarettes Brands* (1887). Produced by the pioneering American tobacco firm Allen & Ginter, this chromolithograph—measuring just 2¾ x 1½ inches—was one of many collectible cards tucked into cigarette packs. Part of a series celebrating international city symbols, it proudly displays the flag or coat of arms of Bordeaux France, evoking the city's rich wine heritage and maritime prestige during an era of global trade. Chromolithography, the medium here, revolutionized commercial printing in the Gilded Age. By layering colored inks through multiple lithographic stones, artists achieved vivid, inexpensive reproductions that mimicked fine paintings. Allen & Ginter's cards were artistic marvels of their time, blending heraldry with mass appeal to hook collectors and boost sales—early precursors to modern trading cards. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Jefferson R. Burdick Collection, this ephemera exemplifies how everyday objects captured cultural pride. Imagine Victorian enthusiasts swapping these gems, fostering a global appreciation for urban identities amid America's industrial boom. A delightful snapshot of commerce, art, and curiosity!

About the Artist

Allen & Ginter

Allen & Ginter, the pioneering American tobacco firm based in Richmond, Virginia, emerged around 1880 from the partnership of John F. Allen and Lewis Ginter, evolving from Allen's earlier John F. Allen & Company. Allen retired in 1882, succeeded by John Pope, yet the brand endured under Ginter's leadership, employing over 1,100 workers—mostly women—for hand-rolled cigarettes by 1886. Ginter, a Dut...