Tennessee, from Flags of the States and Territories (N11) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands

Art Historical Context

Step into the vibrant world of 19th-century American ephemera with *Tennessee, from Flags of the States and TerritoriesN11)*, a commercial color lithograph produced by Allen & Ginter 1888. This tiny card (just 2 3/4 x 1 1/2 inches) was part of a popular series of trading cards inserted into cigarette packs, showcasing state flags to spark patriotism and collecting fervor amid post-Civil War nation-building. Allen & Ginter, pioneering tobacco marketers, used these inserts to boost brand loyalty, blending commerce with civic pride. Crafted via chromolithography—a revolutionary technique layering colors from multiple stones—this print bursts with vivid hues, capturing Tennessee's flag in crisp detail despite its miniature scale. As ephemera, it exemplifies how everyday objects democratized art, making historical symbols accessible to the masses. Far from fine art, its commercial roots highlight lithography's role in mass production, influencing modern advertising. Today, housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Jefferson R. Burdick Collection, this card offers a window into Gilded Age culture—where smoking, collecting, and state identity intertwined. A delightful snapshot of America's flag-waving spirit!

About the Artist

Allen & Ginter

Allen & Ginter, the pioneering American tobacco firm based in Richmond, Virginia, emerged around 1880 from the partnership of John F. Allen and Lewis Ginter, evolving from Allen's earlier John F. Allen & Company. Allen retired in 1882, succeeded by John Pope, yet the brand endured under Ginter's leadership, employing over 1,100 workers—mostly women—for hand-rolled cigarettes by 1886. Ginter, a Dut...