Vice-Admiral, United States, from the Naval Flags series (N17) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands

Art Historical Context

Step into the vibrant world of 19th American advertising with *Vice-Admiral, United States*, a charming chromolithograph from Allen & Ginter's Naval Flags series (N17 Produced around 1888 this tiny card—measuring just 2¾ x 1½ inches—was tucked into packs of their popular cigarettes, sparking a collecting craze among enthusiasts. Allen & Ginter, pioneering tobacco magnates, used these inserts to blend patriotism with promotion, showcasing U.S. naval ensigns like the distinctive Vice-Admiral flag. The artwork exemplifies commercial color lithography, a breakthrough technique that allowed mass production of vivid, multi-layered prints mimicking fine art at low cost. This ephemera captures the era's naval pride amid America's growing maritime power, just before the Spanish-American War. Cataloged as N17 by collector Jefferson R. Burdick, whose generous gift brought it to the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department, it highlights how everyday objects became cultural artifacts. Today, this pocket-sized gem reveals the artistry of commerce: bold colors and precise flag details that educated smokers on naval heraldry while fueling a hobby that endures in vintage collections. A delightful window into Gilded Age ingenuity!

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...