Infantry, Mexico, from the Military Uniforms series (T182) issued by Abdul Cigarettes

Art Historical Context

Step into the vibrant world of 19th-century ephemera with *Infantry, Mexico*, a gem from the Military Uniforms series (T) issued by Abdul Cig in 1881. This petite commercial color lithograph, measuring just 3 /16 × 1 3/4 inches, captures the distinctive uniform of Mexican infantry soldiers in detail. Part of a popular set distributed inside cigarette packs, it reflects the era's fascination with global militaries and imperial pageantry, offering collectors a window into international dress and discipline. Cigarette cards like this one were ingenious marketing tools, transforming everyday smok...

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...