Samuel F. B. Morse, printer's sample for the World's Inventors souvenir album (A25) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1888

This small card, depicting Samuel F.B. Morse, was printed by Allen & Ginter for their cigarette packs. Made using chromolithography, a color printing technique, the image is a reminder of how mass production permeated everyday life in the late 19th century. Chromolithography allowed for inexpensive, vibrant reproductions, fueling the rise of advertising and consumer culture. The process involved creating multiple lithographic stones, each inked with a different color, and then printed in succession to build up the final image. Look closely, and you can see the subtle layering of colors that gives the portrait its depth. The card exemplifies the intersection of industrial production, marketing, and even celebrity culture, as figures like Morse were used to promote products. It's a fascinating example of how printing technology democratized image-making, while also embedding it within a larger system of commerce and consumption. Examining this card encourages us to consider the social implications inherent in seemingly simple objects.