Russia, 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
63.350.216.195.21
Tags
Art Historical Context
Step into the vibrant world of 19th-century ephemera with *Russia, from the National Flags series (N195, a charming commercial color lithograph produced by William S. Kimball & Company in1891. Issued as promotional inserts for Kimball's tobacco products, these tiny cards (just 4¼ × 2⁹/₁₆ inches) captured the imagination of collectors by showcasing international flags and coats of arms This piece highlights Russia's imperial emblem—likely featuring the iconic double-headed eagle—amid a wave of global fascination with nations during the Tsarist era and the lead-up to events like the 1893 World's...
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...