Rajah, India, from the Military Series (N224) issued by Kinney Tobacco Company to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes 1888

This lithograph of a Rajah from India was produced by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company as a promotional card for Sweet Caporal Cigarettes. The figure is adorned with symbols of power and status, most notably the sword he holds. The sword, a symbol of authority and martial prowess, has appeared across cultures from ancient Mesopotamia to medieval Europe. In this lithograph, the Rajah’s sword is not merely a weapon, but an emblem of his command and the protection he provides. Consider how the sword evolved from a practical tool for survival into a potent symbol. Its gleam and sharp edges stir deep-seated psychological responses linked to defense and dominance, resonating with ancestral memories of conflict and survival. The Rajah's sword embodies how symbols perpetually resurface, adapting to new contexts while carrying echoes of their past, proving that history, like a serpent, continually sheds its skin to reveal new forms.