San Marino, from Flags of All Nations, Series 2 (N10) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands 1890

This is a chromolithograph of San Marino’s flag, made as a cigarette card by Allen & Ginter. The flag, with its alternating bands of white and azure, dominates the composition, its undulating form implying a gentle breeze. The flag’s design adheres to a structured, horizontal arrangement, yet the texture gives it a dynamic, lively feel. The city’s coat of arms, nestled in the upper-left corner, counterbalances the flag's movement with its symmetrical layout. Below, the architecture creates depth, drawing the eye into the miniature world. This image operates as a sign, both literally representing San Marino and functioning as a trade card within a larger network of capitalist exchange. The flag, a symbol of national identity, here is commodified and circulated as part of an advertising strategy. Note how the materiality of the chromolithograph—its texture, sheen, and scale—transforms the flag, questioning the relationship between representation, commerce, and national pride.