Seaman, Royal Navy, England, 1869, from the Military Series (N224) issued by Kinney Tobacco Company to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes 1888

This lithograph was created by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company in 1869 to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes. At its center is a British Royal Navy seaman, a figure adorned with potent symbols of maritime power. The seaman's uniform, particularly his wide, flat hat and square-necked collar, echoes across time. These are not merely garments but emblems, resonating with centuries of naval tradition. Consider the hat, reminiscent of the Roman sailors' headgear. The seaman’s collar, often called a "sailor collar," may seem purely functional, but it evokes the naval uniforms of the Napoleonic era. These sartorial choices speak to a deeper, perhaps subconscious, connection to the sea and to the historical narratives of exploration and conquest. This image, seemingly simple, stirs within us a potent blend of national pride and the romantic allure of the seafaring life, a life of adventure and discipline.