Private, Infantry, United States Army, 1813, from the Military Series (N224) issued by Kinney Tobacco Company to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes

Art Historical Context

Step into the world of 19th-century advertising with this petite *Private, Infantry, United States, 1813* from Kinney Tobacco Company's Military Series (N224). in 1888 as a commercial colorograph, this tiny card—measuring just 2¾ × 1½ inches—depicts a uniformed soldier from the War of 1812 era, musket in hand, embodying American military pride. Issued to promote Sweet Caporal Cig, it was likely tucked into cigarette packs, sparking a collecting frenzy among enthusiasts. Lithography's vibrant hues and precise details made these ephemera affordable and eye-catching, transforming everyday tobacco promotion into pocket-sized history lessons. The series romanticized past conflicts, blending patriotism with commerce during the Gilded Age, when such cards fueled a booming trade card culture. Tags like "Soldiers," "Firearms," and "Men" highlight its focus on martial masculinity. Today, housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department as part of The Jefferson R. Burdick Collection, this piece reveals how commerce preserved visual history. A charming snapshot of advertising ingenuity and national nostalgia!

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...