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

Art Historical Context

Step into the vibrant world of 19th-century ephemera with *Holland, from the Flags series (N195, a petite commercial color lithograph produced William S. Kimball & in 1891. just 4 1/4 × 29/16 inches, this card captures the iconic Dutch tricolor flag—red, white, and blue—alongside heraldic elements like the coat of arms,oking national pride in a, eye-catching design. as part of a popular (cataloged as N195), prints were collectible inserts, likely bundled with tobacco products, reflecting the era's booming trade card culture. Chromolithography, the medium here, revolutionized commercial printing by enabling vivid, multi-color reproductions at scale, making high-quality imagery accessible to everyday consumers. Kimball & Co., a prominent American tobacco firm, leveraged this technique to promote their brands while educating the public on global symbols—a clever fusion of commerce and culture amid rising international awareness in the Gilded Age. Today, this unassuming ephemera resides in The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department, part of The Jefferson R. Burdick Collection, a treasure trove gifted in 1948. It reminds us how everyday objects preserve history, offering a window into Victorian collecting passions and the artistry of mass-produced patriotism.

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...