Russia, from the Races of Mankind series (T181) issued by Abdul Cigarettes
1881
Medium
Commercial color lithograph
Dimensions
Sheet: 2 3/8 × 1 3/8 in. (6 × 3.5 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
63.350.246.181.31
Tags
Art Historical Context
This small commercial color lithograph, issued in 1881 by Abdul Cigarettes as part of its “Races of Mankind” series (T181), offers a vivid glimpse into late-nineteenth-century popular culture. Measuring just 2 3/8 by 1 3/8 inches, the card was designed to be tucked into cigarette packs, encouraging collectors to assemble complete sets while they smoked. The image depicts a woman representing Russia, reflecting the era’s fascination with classifying peoples by perceived racial and national types—an interest shared by anthropologists, advertisers, and the public alike. Color lithography, a rela...
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...