Germany, from the National Flags series (N195) issued by Wm. S. Kimball & Co.
Medium
Commercial color lithograph
Dimensions
Sheet: 4 1/4 × 2 9/16 in. (10.8 × 6.5 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
63.350.216.195.8
Tags
Art Historical Context
Step into the vibrant world of 19th advertising with *Germany, from the National Flags series (195)*, a petite commercial color lithograph produced by William S. Kimball & in 1891. Measuring just 4¼ × 2⅝ inches, this ephemera print captures the, red, and gold stripes of the German imperial flag in bold, eye-catching hues. Issued as part of a popular tobacco trading card series, these inserts were tucked into cigarette packages to entice collectors, blending patriotism with commercial savvy during an era of booming mass production. Chromolithography, the medium here, revolutionized printing by...
About the Artist
William S. Kimball & Company
**William S. Kimball & Company**, a pioneering American tobacco manufacturer, was established in 1846 in Rochester, New York, by William S. Kimball and James C. Hart. The firm quickly grew into one of the city's largest employers, particularly of women, producing popular brands like Peerless chewing tobacco, Rigatta and Fireside smoking tobacco, and Vanity Fair cigarettes. Under Kimball's leadersh...