Happy New Year, from the New Years 1890 series (N227) issued by Kinney Bros. 1889 - 1890

This New Year greeting card was issued by Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company around 1890. Here, we observe a symbolic return to childlike innocence, a symbolic gesture towards renewal and hope as the New Year approaches. Note the scene of children at play, rolling a massive snowball. The sphere, a primal symbol of completion and unity, takes on new meaning. One boy pushes, embodying the will to propel forward, while the other is overtaken by its sheer size. The snowball motif echoes the myth of Sisyphus, forever pushing a boulder uphill, yet here it carries the joyful spirit of seasonal festivity. The snowball is a reminder that our burdens are lightened through community. This cyclical image reminds us of our recurring aspirations, a collective hope for renewal.