George R. Jones, The New York Times, from the American Editors series (N1) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands
1887
Medium
Commercial color lithograph
Dimensions
Sheet: 2 3/4 x 1 1/2 in. (7 x 3.8 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
63.350.201.1.26
Tags
Art Historical Context
Step into the vibrant world of 19th-century American advertising with *George R. Jones, New York Times*, a gem from Allen & Ginter's *American Editors series (N1)*, produced in 1887. This commercial color lithograph (just 2 3/4 x 1 1/2 inches) captures the stern portrait of George R., a prominent figure tied to *The New York Times* during an era when newspapers were shaping public opinion and editors wielded immense influence. Issued as inserts in Allen & Ginter cigarette packs, these cards were collectible ephemera, blending portraiture with clever marketing to appeal to smokers and trivia en...
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...