Blake, Great Britain, from the Famous Ships series (N50) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1895

This is a collectible card of the British warship Blake, from a series called ‘Famous Ships’, made by Allen and Ginter for Virginia Brights Cigarettes. These cards were inserted into cigarette packs, part of a marketing strategy that promoted both the product and an image of imperial power and technological advancement. Allen and Ginter were an American company, and their celebration of British naval might speaks to the complex relationships between industrial powers in the late 19th century. The image presents a warship as a symbol of national pride, but its presence in a cigarette pack also reveals the commodification of military power. This exemplifies how images circulate and acquire new meanings within commercial and social contexts. To understand this image, we need to examine the history of naval power, consumer culture, and the role of promotional imagery in shaping public perceptions of empire and technology. The archive is vital to understanding the circulation of these images. Art isn't made in a vacuum, and it reflects existing social norms.