Chili, from the Races of Mankind series (T181) issued by Abdul Cigarettes

Art Historical Context

Step into the vibrant world of 19th-century ephemera with *Chili, from the Races of Mankind seriesT181)*, a diminutive commercial color lithograph issued by Abdul Cigarettes in 1881. Measuring just 2 3/8 × 1 3/8 inches, this tiny print was one of many collectible trading cards tucked into packs to entice buyers and foster collecting fervor. Part of a series categorizing global "races," it likely portrays a woman from Chile—reflected in the evocative title and "Women" tag—capturing the era's fascination with ethnography through mass-produced imagery. Chromolithography, the medium here, revolutionized commercial printing by layering vibrant colors via stone-based lithography, enabling affordable, eye-catching reproductions for everyday consumers. These cards bridged art and advertising, blending artistic detail with cultural stereotypes prevalent in Victorian-era anthropology and imperialism, offering a window into how the world was visualized and commodified. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department, this piece comes from The Jefferson R. Burdick Collection, a landmark gift of over 30,000 ephemera items that preserves these overlooked gems of popular culture. Though small, *Chili* reminds us how everyday objects shaped perceptions of diversity in the late 1800s.

About the Artist

Abdul Cigarettes · 1881–1881

Abdul Cigarettes, an enigmatic American entity active solely in 1881, stands as a fascinating footnote in the history of commercial art, best known for producing vibrant chromolithograph trade cards inserted into cigarette packages as promotional inserts. Little is documented about its origins or personnel, suggesting it operated as a short-lived publishing venture rather than the work of a singul...