Hair, from the Magic Changing Cards series (N223) issued by Kinney Tobacco Company
Medium
Commercial color lithograph
Dimensions
Sheet: 2 3/4 × 1 1/2 in. (7 × 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
Burdick 218, N223.29
Tags
Art Historical Context
Step into the vibrant world of 19th advertising with *Hair*, a gem from the *Magic Changing* series (N223), issued by the Kinney Tobacco Company in 1889 These tiny commercial color lithographs—measuring just 2¾ × 1½ inches—were tucked into cigarette packages as collectible incentives, transforming everyday tobacco purchases into a hunt for colorful surprises. Produced during the height of the "cigarette card craze," this series captivated smokers and children alike with its playful "magic" effect: images that shifted or revealed hidden details when tilted toward light or rubbed, showcasing men...
About the Artist
Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company · 1869–2011
**Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company (1869–2011)** Founded around 1869 by Francis Sherwood Kinney in New York City, the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company quickly rose to prominence in the burgeoning American cigarette industry. Francis, a pioneering tobacco manufacturer, experimented with hand-rolled cigarettes using blends of Turkish and Virginia tobacco, scaling to mass production by employing Europ...