Officer, Girard College Cadets, Philadelphia, from the Military Series (N224) issued by Kinney Tobacco Company to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes 1888

This small card, “Officer, Girard College Cadets, Philadelphia,” was printed by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company as one of a series to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes. Produced through industrial processes, these cards were a cheap and effective marketing tool. Lithography allowed for the mass production of colorful images, imbuing the card with a glossy finish and a feel that was new at the time. The image is striking: a uniformed cadet stands against a decorative background, all rendered in flat, bold colors. The mechanical process allowed the Kinney Brothers to distribute these in vast numbers, tying their product to images of American institutions. These cards are a reminder of the connection between consumer culture, labor, and institutional pride. By understanding the material production of this card, we can reflect on the relationship between manufacturing and the construction of social values at the time. It wasn't just an image, it was a commodity, one of many that shaped the culture of its day.