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

Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company produced this chromolithograph titled "Happy New Year 1890" as part of a series of trade cards. These small cards, distributed in the United States, offer a glimpse into the culture of the late 19th century. The imagery, with figures representing the outgoing and incoming years, speaks to a society deeply invested in the passage of time and the ritual of renewal. Trade cards like these were not just advertisements; they were also collected and traded, becoming a form of popular art. The Kinney Brothers, as a commercial entity, played a role in shaping visual culture, influencing popular taste, and participating in the burgeoning consumerism of the Gilded Age. By studying such ephemera, we can gain insight into the everyday lives, values, and aspirations of people in a bygone era. Resources such as trade catalogs, company records, and social histories can further illuminate the context in which these images were created and consumed.