A Happy New Year, from the New Years 1890 series (N227) issued by Kinney Bros. 1889 - 1890

This festive chromolithograph, wishing us ‘A Happy New Year,’ was issued around 1890 by Kinney Bros., a prominent tobacco company. Created during an era of rapid industrialization and urbanization in the United States, it reflects a yearning for simpler times, and the imagery of leisure and luxury was used to sell this product. The scene is split between a table laden with wine and cheese, and a horse-drawn sleigh speeding through a snowy landscape. This juxtaposition speaks to the complex social dynamics of the late 19th century, where the burgeoning wealthy class enjoyed their leisure, while many others faced harsh economic realities. The idealized winter scene, with its promise of cheer and abundance, papers over the stark inequalities of the Gilded Age. The card, intended for mass distribution, provides a window into the aspirations and anxieties of its time. It reminds us that even the most well-meaning wishes can be shaped by the cultural and economic forces at play.