Guide, France, 1853, from the Military Series (N224) issued by Kinney Tobacco Company to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes 1888

This is *Guide, France, 1853*, a chromolithograph card from the Military Series, issued by the Kinney Tobacco Company. Produced to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes, it depicts a French military figure from the back, with a decorative uniform in red, green, and white. This image exists in the context of 19th century commercial culture, where collectable cards like these became a popular marketing tool. But it also reflects a deep fascination with military strength and national identity. Consider for a moment the politics of representation at play here. The card highlights a French soldier, likely for an American audience, framing particular ideas about European power and fashion. These cards both participated in and fueled a broader cultural interest in military prowess and exoticized representations of foreign cultures. The figures in the image are more than just commercial objects. They are icons, loaded with the symbolic weight of nationhood, militarism, and consumer culture, which is something to consider in our contemporary moment.