King of Sweden, from World's Sovereigns series (N34) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes
1889
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
63.350.202.34.46
Tags
Art Historical Context
This vibrant chromolithograph, *King of Sweden* from & Ginter's *'s Sovereigns* series (N34), captures the regal portrait of Sweden's monarch amid ornate coat of arms, issued in 1889 as a promotional insert for cigarette packs. In the late 19th century, American companies like Allen & G pioneered trading cards to boost sales and appeal to collectors, turning everyday smokes into gateways for education and fascination with global royalty. This tiny card (just 2¾ × 1½ inches) reflects the era's imperial curiosity, showcasing European kings alongside world leaders in a series that celebrated powe...
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...