Hussar, Spain, 1853, from the Military Series (N224) issued by Kinney Tobacco Company to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes 1888

This small chromolithograph of a Spanish Hussar was produced by the Kinney Tobacco Company around 1888 as a promotional item for Sweet Caporal Cigarettes. The company, later part of the American Tobacco Company, issued a series of military figures from around the world. These cards speak to the rise of mass media, advertising, and consumer culture in the late 19th century. Cigarette cards were inserted into packs as a marketing strategy, capitalizing on the popularity of collecting and trading cards, especially among young men. The image is itself a cultural artifact, depicting a romanticized view of military life, reflecting a fascination with exotic uniforms and valor. The choice of a Spanish Hussar might connect to American interests in Spain given their growing trade relationship at the time. Understanding this image means looking into the history of tobacco advertising and the social impact of marketing practices in the 1880s. Resources such as company records, advertising journals, and social histories of consumerism will help to unpack the cultural and economic context in which this image was created and consumed.