Syria, from the Types of All Nations series (N24) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes

Art Historical Context

Step into the vibrant world of 19th-century advertising with *Syria, from the of All Nations series (24)*, a petite commercial color lithograph produced in 1889 by George S Harris & Sons for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes. Measuring just 2 3/4 x 1 1/2 inches, this card features a profile of a Syrian woman, capturing the era's fascination with global "types" through stylized, evocative imagery. Part of a popular series, these cards were tucked into cigarette packs as collectibles, blending commerce with curiosity about distant cultures. Chromolithography, the medium here, revolutionized mass printing by layering vibrant colors from stone plates, making high-quality illustrations affordable and eye-catching. Allen & Ginter, pioneers in the trade card boom, issued these sets to boost brand loyalty, turning smokers into avid collectors. This example, from The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Jefferson R. Burdick Collection, highlights ephemera—everyday printed matter—as a window into Victorian-era Orientalism, where Western audiences romanticized Eastern identities. Today, it reminds us how art permeated daily life, sparking wonder about far-off lands while reflecting the biases of its time. A tiny gem of commercial ingenuity!

About the Artist

George S. Harris & Sons|Allen & Ginter (American|American) · | – |

American, Richmond, Virginia|American, Philadelphia