Monocle and Eye (light blue), from Jocular Ocular series (N221) issued by Kinney Bros. 1889

This "Monocle and Eye" trading card was produced by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company in 1889, using chromolithography. That’s a commercially viable printing process involving a series of lithographic stones, one for each color, building up a complete image in layers of ink. The smooth paper stock and the crispness of the printed image speak to the precision of industrial production. This wasn't fine art; it was an advertisement, intended to be collected and traded, boosting brand recognition. The very concept of a collectible card speaks to rising consumerism during the Industrial Revolution. It's a small, mass-produced object, yet the illusionistic detail, and the way that it references fashion and even science, give it a cultural weight beyond its humble origins. So next time you see a small, printed artifact like this, consider the broader picture: the systems of labor, trade, and technology that made it possible, and the way that even the humblest objects can reflect our shared history.