Officer, 11th Royal Hussars, Great Britain, 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 advertising with *Officer, 11th Royal Huss, Great Britain*, a gem from the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Jefferson R. Burdick Collection Produced in 1888 by the Kinney Tobacco Company, this petite commercial color lithograph ( 2¾ × 1½ inches) captures the proud profile of a British cavalry officer from the elite 11th Royal Huss. Part of the Military Series (N224), was issued as a collectible premium with Sweet Caporal Cigarettes enticing smokers with glamorous military imagery. Chromolithography, the era's breakthrough technique for affordable, vivid color printing, allowed mass production of these ephemera—small, disposable yet captivating prints. Kinney's series tapped into Victorian fascination with empire and soldiery, glorifying martial prowess to boost cigarette sales amid fierce tobacco competition. Such cards were traded avidly, blending patriotism with commerce. Today, this tiny artifact reveals how everyday objects shaped culture, from advertising innovation to collecting mania. Donated by Jefferson R. Burdick, whose vast archive preserves these "poor man's pictures," it reminds us of the artistry in the ephemeral. A window into imperial Britain and Gilded Age marketing!

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...