Pet Squirrel, from the Household Pets series (N194) issued by Wm. S. Kimball & Co.

Art Historical Context

Step into the whimsical world of late 19th-century advertising *Pet Squirrel*, a color lithograph from the Household Pets series (N194 issued by Wm. S. Kimball & Co. 1891. Produced by Julius Bien & Co. and with the American Tobacco Company, this tiny print—measuring just 3 3/4 × 2 1/2 inches—was designed as an insert for cigarette packs, part of a popular trend where tobacco brands distributed collectible cards to boost sales and customer loyalty. These ephemera captured everyday joys, turning ordinary purchases into treasures. The artwork showcases commercial color lithography at its finest, a technique that enabled vibrant, mass-produced images with precise layering of colors on stone plates. Likely featuring a woman tenderly interacting with her pet squirrel, it reflects Victorian-era fascination with household pets as cherished companions, blending domestic tenderness with anthropomorphic charm. Such cards humanized animals, making them relatable figures in middle-class homes. Today, preserved in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Jefferson R. Burdick Collection, *Pet Squirrel* offers a window into Gilded Age consumer culture and the artistry of everyday objects. Its survival highlights how fleeting promotions became enduring cultural artifacts, reminding us of the playful bonds between people and their furry friends.

About the Artist

William S. Kimball & Company|Julius Bien & Co.|American Tobacco 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...