Egypt, from the Races of Mankind series (T181) issued by Abdul Cigarettes

Art Historical Context

Step into the world of 19th-century ephemera with *Egypt, from the Races of Mankind series (181)*, a petite commercial color lithograph issued Abdul Cigarettes in 1. Measuring just 3/8 × 1 3/8 inches, this tiny card was tucked into cigarette packs as a collectible incentive, part of a popular trend that turned smoking into a gateway for education and entertainment. The series depicted people from various global cultures, often highlighting women in traditional attire, reflecting the era's ethnographic curiosity. Produced via chromolithography—a vibrant printing technique that layered colors ...

About the Artist

Abdul Cigarettes · 1881–1881

Abdul Cigarettes, an enigmatic American entity active solely in 1881, stands as a fascinating footnote in the history of commercial art, best known for producing vibrant chromolithograph trade cards inserted into cigarette packages as promotional inserts. Little is documented about its origins or personnel, suggesting it operated as a short-lived publishing venture rather than the work of a singul...