F. Gebhard, from the Racing Colors of the World series (N22b) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes

Art Historical Context

Step into the vibrant world of 19th-century ephemera with *F. Gebhard* from Allen & Ginter's *Racing Colors of the World series (N22b), a diminutive yet dazzling commercial color lithograph produced in 1888. These pocket-sized cards (just 2 3/4 x 1 1/2 inches) were tucked into cigarette packs as clever marketing ploys by the pioneering tobacco firm Allen & Ginter, sparking a collecting craze among enthusiasts. Issued as part of set N22b, this piece celebrates the colorful silks and jockeys of international horse racing, blending sport, fashion, and commerce in a single glance. At its heart is F. Gebhard, spotlighted amid tags evoking women jockeys—a nod to the trailblazing female figures in a male-dominated sport during the Gilded Age. Chromolithography, the era's cutting-edge printing technique, brings Gebhard's racing colors to life with bold, layered hues on paper, transforming everyday advertising into miniature artistry. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department, this card hails from The Jefferson R. Burdick Collection, a treasure trove of such Americana gifted in 1948. These cards weren't just throwaways; they fueled early pop culture fandom, immortalizing racing icons and hinting at evolving gender roles in athletics. A tiny window into Victorian leisure, *F. Gebhard* reminds us how commerce captured the thrill of the turf.

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...