Sahara, from the Races of Mankind series (T181) issued by Abdul Cigarettes

Art Historical Context

Step into the world of 19th-centuryhemera with *Sahara*, a vibrant card from the *Races Mankind* series (181), issued by Abdul Cigarettes in 188. These tiny treasures, measuring just 2 3/8 × 1 3/8 inches, were tucked into cigarette packs as collectibles, sparking a craze among enthusiasts. Depicting men from the Sahara region, piece reflects the era's fascination with ethnography, often blending curiosity with colonial-era stereotypes of "exotic" peoples. Produced as a commercial color lithograph—a pioneering technique using multiple lithographic stones for rich, layered hues—this print exemplifies mass-produced artistry. Chromolithography allowed companies like Abdul Cigarettes to create affordable, eye-catching images that educated (and entertained) the public on human diversity, albeit through a Eurocentric lens. Such series fueled the trade card boom, turning everyday smoking into a gateway for armchair exploration. Housed in The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Jefferson R. Burdick Collection, *Sahara* highlights the cultural role of advertising in shaping perceptions of race and identity. A snapshot of Victorian collecting culture, it invites us to reflect on how art, commerce, and anthropology intertwined in the late 1800s.

About the Artist

Abdul Cigarettes · 1881–1881

Abdul Cigarettes, an enigmatic American entity active solely in 1881, stands as a fascinating footnote in the history of commercial art, best known for producing vibrant chromolithograph trade cards inserted into cigarette packages as promotional inserts. Little is documented about its origins or personnel, suggesting it operated as a short-lived publishing venture rather than the work of a singul...