Capitol of Florida in Tallahasse, from the General Government and State Capitol Buildings series (N14) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands

Art Historical Context

This petite chromolithograph, titled *Capitol of Florida inahasse*, captures the State Capitol in Tallahassee as part of Allen & Ginter's *General Government and State Capitol* series (N14), issued in 1889. Produced by Gast Lithograph & Engr Company, these vibrant cards were promotional inserts tucked into cigarette packs, transforming everyday tobacco products into collectible treasures. At just 1 1/2 x 2 3/4 inches, their diminutive size belied their widespread appeal, sparking a collecting craze among Americans fascinated by national landmarks. Lithography's bold color printing technique allowed for mass production of eye-catching images, blending commercial savvy with artistic precision. Allen & Ginter, pioneers in the trade card boom of the 1880s, used such series to build brand loyalty while educating the public on iconic architecture—a nod to Gilded Age patriotism and civic pride. This ephemera exemplifies how everyday objects documented America's growing federal and state identities. Today, housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Jefferson R. Burdick Collection, it offers a window into late-19th-century marketing ingenuity and architectural heritage, reminding us how even a cigarette insert could preserve history in miniature.

About the Artist

Allen & Ginter|The Gast Lithograph & Engraving Company

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...