Red Eagle, Prussia, from the World's Decorations series (N44) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1890

This is a lithograph of the Red Eagle medal of Prussia, produced by Allen & Ginter as part of their "World's Decorations" series for cigarette cards. These cards, popular in the late 19th century, offer a glimpse into the cultural landscape of the time. The Red Eagle medal, prominently displayed, was a symbol of honor and status in Imperial Germany. It was awarded for military and civil achievements. This image, like many others from the series, served to promote an association between the consumption of cigarettes and the prestige of international symbols of power. The company Allen & Ginter used chromolithography to create colorful and attractive images that would entice consumers to purchase their products. Through careful research, period documents and advertising ephemera, we can better understand how images like this were used to shape social values and consumer behavior.