M.H. de Young, San Francisco Chronicle, from the American Editors series (N1) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands 1887

This small card, part of a series for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes, portrays M.H. de Young of the San Francisco Chronicle. These cards, collected in the late 19th century, offer a glimpse into a society grappling with industrialization and its burgeoning media landscape. De Young, a prominent figure in San Francisco, co-founded the Chronicle with his brother, Charles. Their story is one of ambition and navigating the complexities of class and power. As Jewish men in a society marked by both opportunity and prejudice, the De Young brothers used their newspaper to shape public opinion and, undeniably, their own social standing. These cards weren't just about selling cigarettes; they were about selling aspiration, identity, and a vision of American success, carefully curated for a predominantly white, male audience. While seemingly a simple portrait, this card is a layered artifact, hinting at the intricate ways identity, commerce, and representation intertwined in shaping the American narrative.