Joseph Pulitzer, The New York World, from the American Editors series (N1) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands 1887

This small chromolithograph of Joseph Pulitzer and The New York World was once included in packs of Allen & Ginter Cigarettes. Here we see the publisher of the New York World set against a backdrop of his newspaper, his upward gaze symbolizing the progressive ambitions of the American press. The late 19th century was a period of industrial expansion and shifting social structures. Cigarette cards like this one were important marketing tools, and also served a cultural function. By distributing images of prominent leaders and publications, tobacco companies played a role in defining cultural values for a mass audience. Careful archival research into the history of advertising, mass media, and consumer culture can help us understand the complex social forces that shaped the production and reception of this modest but telling artifact.