Naval Standard, Great Britain, from the National Flags series (N195) issued by Wm. S. Kimball & Co.

Art Historical Context

Step into the vibrant world of 19th-century ephemera with this petite *Naval Standard, Great Britain*, a commercial color lithograph from the National Flags series (N195), issued by Wm. S. Kimball & Co. in 1891. Produced as collectible inserts for tobacco products, this tiny card (just 3 9/16 × 2 3/8 inches when trimmed) proudly displays Britain's naval ensign, adorned with iconic symbols like the lion for England, the harp for Ireland, and bold flags evoking imperial might. During the height of the British Empire, such cards fueled patriotic fervor and educated smokers on global heraldry, turning everyday packaging into pocket-sized history lessons. The medium—chromolithography—shines here, a revolutionary technique that allowed mass production of vivid, multi-layered colors on paper, making high-quality imagery affordable for the masses. Kimball & Co., a prominent American tobacco firm, leveraged this to market their brands, blending commerce with cultural pride in an era when collecting flags and standards was a popular pastime. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department as part of The Jefferson R. Burdick Collection, this ephemera gem highlights how everyday objects captured national identity. Imagine Victorian collectors trading these for a glimpse of empire— a charming reminder of art's reach beyond gallery walls.

About the Artist

William S. Kimball & Company · 1850–1950

**William S. Kimball & Company**, a pioneering American tobacco manufacturer, was established in 1846 in Rochester, New York, by William S. Kimball and James C. Hart. The firm quickly grew into one of the city's largest employers, particularly of women, producing popular brands like Peerless chewing tobacco, Rigatta and Fireside smoking tobacco, and Vanity Fair cigarettes. Under Kimball's leadersh...