Montana, from Flags of the States and Territories (N11) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands

Art Historical Context

This charming chromolithograph, titledMontana, from Flags of the States Territories (N11)*, was produced in 1888 by the tobacco firm Allen & Ginter. part of a popular series of collectible cards inserted into cigarette packs, it celebrates the flag of Montana Territory—just one year before its admission as the 41st state in 1889. These diminutive prints (just 2¾ x 1½ inches) fueled a craze for trading cards, blending patriotism with commercial savvy during America's Gilded Age expansion westward. The medium, commercial color lithography (or chromolithography), was revolutionary for its time, enabling vibrant, multi-hued reproductions at low cost for mass distribution. Allen & Ginter's cards showcased precise layering of colored inks to mimic hand-painted detail, making symbols of national unity accessible to everyday collectors. This ephemera exemplifies how 19th-century advertising intertwined with popular culture, turning fleeting promotions into enduring artifacts. Today, housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Jefferson R. Burdick Collection, this piece highlights the overlooked artistry of trade cards—tiny windows into Victorian-era pride and commerce. Visitors will appreciate its crisp depiction of Montana's bold banner against a starry field, evoking the rugged spirit of the American frontier.

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...