Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Tower and Sword, Portugal, from the World's Decorations series (N44) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes
Medium
Commercial color lithograph
Dimensions
Sheet: 2 7/8 x 3 1/4 in. (7.3 x 8.3 cm)
Classification
Prints|Ephemera
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Jefferson R. Burdick Collection, Gift of Jefferson R. Burdick
Accession Number
63.350.202.44.47
Tags
Art Historical Context
Welcome to the Metropolitan Museum of's Drawings and Prints department, where this tiny gem from 1890 sparkles with history. Titled *Ancient and Most Noble Order the Tower and Sword,*, this commercial color lithograph is part of Allen & Ginter's *'s Decorations series (N44)*, a set of collectible cigarette cards produced by the pioneering American tobacco company. Measuring just 2 7/8 x 3 1/4 inches, it was designed by Allen & Ginter in collaboration with lithographers Lindner, Eddy & Claus and tucked into cigarette packs to entice smokers—especially boys—with vibrant images of global honors. ...
About the Artist
Allen & Ginter|Lindner, Eddy & Claus
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...