Montgomery Greys, Alabama Militia, from the Military Series (N224) issued by Kinney Tobacco Company to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes

Art Historical Context

Step into the vibrant world of 19th-century American advertising with *Montgomery Greys, Alabama Milit*, a gem from the Military Series (N224) by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company in 8. This petite commercial color lithograph, measuring just 2 3/4 × 1 1/2 inches, was tucked into packages of Sweet Caporal Cig to entice collectors and boost sales. Featuring stern-faced militiamen with swords at the ready, it captures the era's fascination with martial valor, evoking pride in local units like Alabama's historic Montgomery Greys. Lithography, a revolutionary printing technique, allowed for vivid, mass-produced color images on these ephemera—affordable tokens that turned everyday purchases into treasures. Kinney's series tapped into post-Civil War nostalgia, glorifying military heritage amid a booming tobacco industry. Such cards fueled a collecting craze, blending commerce with cultural memory. Today, housed in The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Jefferson R. Burdick Collection, this print highlights how everyday objects preserved history. Gaze closely at the crisp details of uniforms and weaponry, and you'll see a snapshot of Gilded Age patriotism in your palm.

About the Artist

Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company · 1869–2011

**Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company (1869–2011)** Founded around 1869 by Francis Sherwood Kinney in New York City, the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company quickly rose to prominence in the burgeoning American cigarette industry. Francis, a pioneering tobacco manufacturer, experimented with hand-rolled cigarettes using blends of Turkish and Virginia tobacco, scaling to mass production by employing Europ...