Irene Perry, from World's Beauties, Series 2 (N27) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes

Art Historical Context

In the late 19th century, cigarette manufacturers like Allen & Ginter advertising by inserting colorful collectible cards into their packs, sparking a craze among enthusiasts. This petite commercial color lithograph, *Irene Perry, from Beauties, Series 2 (N27)*, in 1888, exemplifies the trend. Measuring just 2¾ x 1½ inches, it was designed for easy trading and collecting, featuring the alluring portrait of Irene Perry amid a series celebrating feminine ideals of the era. Chromolithography, the medium here, allowed for vivid, multi-layered colors printed in mass quantities—a technological marvel that made high-quality images affordable and widespread. Credited to Allen & Ginter with lithography by Lindner, Eddy & Claus, these ephemera cards blended commercial savvy with artistic flair, drawing from popular portraiture styles to captivate smokers and hobbyists alike. Today, preserved in The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Jefferson R. Burdick Collection, this card highlights the intersection of consumer culture, gender representation, and print innovation. It offers a glimpse into Victorian-era fascination with beauty and celebrity, reminding us how everyday objects became cultural treasures.

About the Artist

Allen & Ginter|Lindner, Eddy & Claus

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...