Napoleon Bonaparte, from the Great Generals series (N15) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands

Art Historical Context

Step into the vibrant world of 19th-century advertising with this petite commercial color lithograph,Napoleon Bonaparte*, from Allen & Ginter's * Generals* series (15). Produced in 1888 by George S. Harris & Sons this tiny card—measuring just 2¾ 1½ inches—was designed as an insert for Allen & Ginter cigarette packs Tobacco companies like Allen & Ginter pioneered these collectible cards to entice smokers, turning everyday purchases into a hunt for historical heroes. Napoleon I, the legendary French emperor and military strategist, is depicted here as an enduring icon of power and ambition, his stern visage capturing the public's fascination with "great men" of history. The artwork showcases the era's chromolithography technique, a breakthrough in mass-produced color printing that brought bold hues and fine details to affordable ephemera. Though humble in scale and purpose, these cards democratized art, blending portraiture with commercial savvy during America's Gilded Age. Classified as prints and ephemera in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department, this piece hails from The Jefferson R. Burdick Collection—a treasure trove gifted in 1948 that preserves thousands of such overlooked gems. Today, it reminds us how popular culture immortalized figures like Napoleon, bridging history, commerce, and collecting in a single, colorful snapshot.

About the Artist

Allen & Ginter|George S. Harris & Sons

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...