U.S. Frigate Chicago, from the Naval Vessels of the World series (N226) issued by Kinney Bros.

Art Historical Context

Step into the bustling world of late 19th-century America with *U.S. Frigate*, a vibrant chromolithograph from the *Naval Vessels of the* series (N226), issued by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company in 9. This tiny card, measuring just 1 1/2 × 2 3/4 inches, captures the majestic steam-powered frigate *Chicago*—one of the U.S. Navy's new "ABCD" ships—sailing proudly amid ocean waves. Produced as promotional inserts in cigarette packs, these ephemera fueled a collecting craze, blending marketing savvy with national pride during an era of naval expansion and imperial ambitions. Chromolithography, the medium here, revolutionized commercial printing by layering vibrant colors through multiple lithographic stones, enabling mass production of eye-catching images at low cost. Kinney Brothers, savvy tobacco entrepreneurs, tapped into public fascination with global navies, educating smokers on vessels from around the world while boosting sales. This card exemplifies "trade card" culture, where everyday objects became gateways to history and adventure. Today, it resides in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Jefferson R. Burdick Collection, a treasure trove of American prints gifted by the pioneering collector. A snapshot of Gilded Age innovation, it reminds us how commerce and patriotism sailed hand in hand. (198 words)

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...