Pontifical States, from the National Flags series (N195) issued by Wm. S. Kimball & Co.

Art Historical Context

This charming commercial color lithograph from 1891 belongs to the National Flags series (N195), a set of collectible cards issued by Wm. S. Kimball & Company, a prominent American tobacco firm. Measuring just over four inches tall, the card features the coat of arms and flag of the Pontifical States—also known as the Papal States—printed with the vibrant hues made possible by color lithography. Such cards were tucked into cigarette packages as marketing incentives, encouraging customers to collect and trade images of nations from around the world. Though the Papal States had been incorporated into unified Italy two decades earlier, their distinctive yellow-and-white flag with the papal tiara and keys remained a recognizable symbol of the Vatican’s historic sovereignty. The series reflects the late-nineteenth-century fascination with geography, empire, and national identity, turning everyday ephemera into miniature lessons in world affairs. Today, this delicate print survives in the Metropolitan Museum’s Burdick Collection, where it offers a vivid glimpse into both the visual culture of advertising and the global curiosity of Victorian-era Americans.

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...