Lance, from the Arms of All Nations series (N3) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands

Art Historical Context

Step into the vibrant world of 19th-century advertising with *Lance, from the Arms of All series (N3)*, a diminutive yet dazzling commercial color lithograph produced by Allen & Ginter 1887. This tiny card, measuring just 2 3/4 x 1 1/2 inches, was one of many inserted into cigarette packs as collectible premiums, sparking a craze among smokers and children alike. Allen & Ginter, pioneering tobacco entrepreneurs, used these ephemera to promote their brands while showcasing global weaponry, blending commerce with cultural curiosity. Crafted via chromolithography—a cutting-edge technique layering vibrant colors through multiple stone plates—the print captures the intricate details of a lance, evoking cavalry traditions with motifs of men, horses, and arms. Its bold hues and precise lines highlight the era's advances in mass-produced graphic art, transforming everyday inserts into miniature masterpieces. Part of The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Jefferson R. Burdick Collection, it exemplifies how ephemera preserves slices of Gilded Age life. These cards fueled an early trading card phenomenon, reflecting Victorian fascination with international militaria amid imperial expansion. Today, they offer a window into how everyday objects documented history, making this pocket-sized gem a delightful nod to innovation and nostalgia.

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...