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

Art Historical Context

Behold the vibrant "Spain" flag from the National Flags series (N195), a commercial color lithograph produced in 1891 by William S. Kimball & Company, a prominent American tobacco firm. Measuring just 4¼ × 2⅜ inches, this ephemera captures the bold red and yellow stripes of Spain's national with striking precision, designed as a collectible insert for cigarette packages. In the late 19th century, tobacco companies like Kimball pioneered promotional trading cards to boost sales and foster collecting hobbies among enthusiasts. Color lithography, a revolutionary printing technique, enabled mass production of vivid, affordable images, democratizing art and national symbolism during an era of rising global awareness and imperialism. This series highlighted flags worldwide, reflecting cultural pride and international curiosity. Today, preserved in The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department through the Jefferson R. Burdick Collection, it offers a charming glimpse into Gilded Age commerce and everyday visual culture—reminding us how everyday objects carried the world's colors into American pockets.

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...