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

Art Historical Context

Step into the world of 19th-century ephemera with *Egypt, from the Races of Mankind series (181)*, a petite commercial color lithograph issued Abdul Cigarettes in 1. Measuring just 3/8 × 1 3/8 inches, this tiny card was tucked into cigarette packs as a collectible incentive, part of a popular trend that turned smoking into a gateway for education and entertainment. The series depicted people from various global cultures, often highlighting women in traditional attire, reflecting the era's ethnographic curiosity. Produced via chromolithography—a vibrant printing technique that layered colors for mass appeal—this card exemplifies how commercial art democratized imagery. Lithography allowed affordable, eye-catching reproductions, making exotic subjects accessible to everyday consumers amid Europe's colonial fascination with the "races of mankind." Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department, thanks to the Jefferson R. Burdick Collection, it offers a window into Victorian consumer culture and its blend of commerce with pseudo-anthropology. Though small, this ephemera captures a pivotal moment when tobacco companies shaped popular views of the world.

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...