Problem, from the Magic Changing Cards series (N223) issued by Kinney Tobacco Company
Medium
Commercial color lithograph
Dimensions
Sheet: 1 1/2 × 2 3/4 in. (3.8 × 7 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, N223.41
Tags
Art Historical Context
This charming small card, titled *Problem*, comes from the Magic Changing Cards series (N223) produced by the Kinney Brothers Company in 1889 Issued as a promotional insert in tobacco products, it exemplifies the vibrant world of late-19th-century American advertising ephemera. Measuring just 1 ½ by 2 ¾ inches, the card was designed for easy handling and collecting, reflecting the era’s growing culture of mass-produced giveaways that encouraged brand loyalty among consumers. Created as a commercial color lithograph, the print showcases the technical advances of the time, allowing bright, deta...
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...