Four in Hand, from the Sports and Art Subjects series (N197) issued by Wm. S. Kimball & Co.

Art Historical Context

Step into the vibrant world of late 19th-century American leisure with *Four in Hand*, a commercial color lithograph from Sports and Art Subjects seriesN197), issued around 1889 by Wm. S. Kimball &., a prominent tobacco manufacturer. This petite print (just 3 × 3⅜ inches) captures the thrill of a "four-in" carriage—a stylish coach pulled by four horses, often driven in competitive coaching parades popular among the elite. Featuring men, women, dogs, and horses in spirited motion, it evokes the Gilded Age fascination with equestrian sports, outdoor pursuits, and genteel social outings. Produced via chromolithography, a revolutionary technique that layered vibrant colors through multiple stone plates, this card exemplifies mass-market artistry. Trade cards like this were tucked into cigarette packs as clever promotions, blending advertising with collectible art to appeal to a broad audience. Part of the celebrated Jefferson R. Burdick Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, it highlights how everyday ephemera preserved snapshots of Victorian-era culture. Today, *Four in Hand* reminds us of a time when horses and carriages symbolized speed, status, and camaraderie—fun collectibles that turned smokers into inadvertent art patrons.

About the Artist

William S. Kimball & Company · 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...