House Order of Saxony, from the Military Series (N224) issued by Kinney Tobacco Company to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes 1888

This striking chromolithograph, created by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company, showcases the House Order of Saxony against a decorative backdrop. The cross, a symbol predating Christianity, has morphed over millennia, from ancient solar emblems to heraldic devices signifying honor and allegiance. Here, the cross is combined with a crown, and the letters "F A", standing for Friedrich August, in recognition of loyalty to the royal house of Saxony. Medals and orders like these were meant to inspire valor and obedience in its recipients. We see this same impulse echoed in earlier Roman military decorations, as well as medieval heraldry. It is a potent symbol that transcends time and place; an ever-evolving emblem that connects us to the universal human need for recognition, and our desire to leave a lasting mark on the world.