Woman wearing feathered hat, from the Novelties series (N228, Type 2) issued by Kinney Bros. 1889

This small card was made by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company as part of their Novelties series. It's a chromolithograph, a color printing process that allowed for mass production of images like this one. The image itself depicts a woman in a feathered hat. The lithographic process uses stones or metal plates to transfer an image onto paper, allowing for details and subtle gradations of color. The texture of the hat and the soft rendering of the woman's face demonstrate the capabilities of the medium. These cards were essentially advertisements, small, collectible images distributed with tobacco products. The printing quality and the subject matter – a fashionable woman – were intended to appeal to consumers, associating the product with sophistication and taste. Looking at this card, we can appreciate the skilled labor of the printmakers, the artistry involved in creating an appealing image, and the intersection of art, commerce, and popular culture in the late 19th century. It’s a reminder that even the smallest, most utilitarian objects can offer insight into the social and economic forces of their time.