Card 42, Argynnis Idalia, from the Butterflies series (N183) issued by Wm. S. Kimball & Co.

Art Historical Context

Step into the vibrant world of 19th advertising with *Card 42, Argynnis Idalia* from the Butterflies seriesN183), issued by. S. Kimball &. in 1888. This petite commercial color lithograph, measuring just 2 11/16 × 1 1/2 inches, was a trade card distributed with Kimball's tobacco products. Produced by the renowned lithographer Julius Bien, it captures the striking Argynnis Idalia butterflynow known as the regal fritillary—side elegant profiles of women, blending natural beauty with feminine allure to entice collectors and promote the brand. Chromolithography, the medium here, revolutionized mass printing in the late 1800s, enabling vivid, multi-layered colors on affordable paper. Bien's expertise, honed in scientific illustrations, lent precision to the butterfly's delicate wings and intricate patterns, making these ephemera both artistic gems and clever marketing tools. As part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Jefferson R. Burdick Collection—a treasure trove of American prints—the card highlights the era's obsession with butterfly collecting and chromolithographic innovation. These cards fueled a collecting craze, bridging entomology, fashion, and commerce, and offer a window into Gilded Age consumer culture where even a cigarette pack could yield pocket-sized artistry.

About the Artist

William S. Kimball & Company|Julius Bien · 1850–1950

**William S. Kimball & Company**, a pioneering American tobacco manufacturer, was established in 1846 in Rochester, New York, by William S. Kimball and James C. Hart. The firm quickly grew into one of the city's largest employers, particularly of women, producing popular brands like Peerless chewing tobacco, Rigatta and Fireside smoking tobacco, and Vanity Fair cigarettes. Under Kimball's leadersh...