France, from the National Flags series (N195) issued by Wm. S. Kimball & Co.

Art Historical Context

Step into the vibrant world of late 19th-century ephemera with *France, from the National Flags seriesN195)*, a charming commercial color lithograph produced by William S. Kimball & Company 1891. This print (just 4¼ × 2⅜ inches) depicts the French tricolor flag, part of a popular series issued as promotional inserts in Kimball's tobacco products. During this era of burgeoning nationalism and international exhibitions like the 1889 Paris World's Fair, such cards sparked a collecting frenzy, educating smokers and enthusiasts alike on global symbols of pride. Crafted via chromolithography—a revolutionary technique blending multiple lithographic stones for vivid, multi-layered colors—these affordable prints brought high-quality imagery to the masses. Kimball, a Rochester-based tobacco firm, leveraged this medium to boost brand loyalty, turning everyday packaging into pocket-sized treasures. As ephemera, it captures the commercial artistry of Gilded Age America, where advertising intertwined with education and patriotism. Preserved in The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department through the Jefferson R. Burdick Collection, this card highlights the cultural role of trade cards in fostering global awareness and hobbyist communities, reminding us how fleeting objects endure as windows into history.

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...