Yellow Muscat, from the Fruits series (N12) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands

Art Historical Context

Step into the vibrant world of 19th advertising with *Yellow Muscat, from Fruits series (N12, a delightful commercial color lithograph produced in 1891 by George. Harris & Sons for the Allen & Ginter Cigarette Brands. This tiny card, measuring just 2¾ x 1½ inches, was one of many collectible inserts tucked into cigarette packs, sparking a craze for trading and album-filling among Victorians. The Fruits series showcased luscious produce like the golden Yellow Muscat grapes, often paired with charming motifs of birds and girls, blending whimsy with commercial appeal to promote the brand. Chromolithography, the era's cutting-edge technique, brought these ephemera to life with vivid, multi-layered colors printed from stone plates—a marvel of mass production that democratized artistry. Allen & Ginter, pioneers in tobacco marketing, elevated trade cards from mere ads to coveted keepsakes, influencing modern collecting culture from baseball cards to Pokémon. Today, this gem resides in The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department, part of The Jefferson R. Burdick Collection, a treasure trove of American ephemera gifted in 1948. It whispers of a time when everyday luxuries like fruit and smokes fueled imagination and commerce.

About the Artist

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

American, Richmond, Virginia|American, Philadelphia