A Tobacco Card Tuesday edition of #WhatsOnYourDesk.

“The purpose of art is washing the dust of daily life off our souls.” —Pablo Picasso

#BeTheGood

This is from N225 "National Dances," issued in 1889 by Kinney Brothers Tobacco, a set pairing dance traditions from around the world.

The image is fascinating, and perhaps catches real motion: mid-step, weight on one foot, tomahawk and knife in hand, feather headdress flaring outward. A small window into how the 1880s American Tobacco trade cataloged and sold the world's cultures, one pack at a time.

One of my favorites. This face carries some debate. Allen & Ginter used "Old Planter" as one of the earliest branded "faces" in advertising, showing up on the N33 "World's Smokers" card, storefront signs, print ads, etc. Some collectors believe it's a sly self-portrait of Allen or Ginter themselves, woven into their own branding. Others, myself included, point to a strong resemblance to Joseph Ducreux, the 18th-century French court painter famous for his exaggerated, smirking self-portraits. (There’s a great YouTube video out there breaking this down)…

Whoever he really is, the image has staying power. This card is pushing 140 years old, and IMO the “Old Planter” is a bridge between the tobacco-card era and today’s hobby. Not only a subject, but an important symbol of the branding associated with collecting. Still featured in modern Topps Allen & Ginter releases reminding us that today’s hobby still traces its lineage back to the 19th-century. A “mascot” that's quietly tied most of us in this hobby together, whether we ever noticed it or not.

There are other “variations” (or set manufacturers) from late-19th /early 20th century that used the N33 set images. I’ll be sharing more of these over time.

Issued in 1910 by the American Tobacco Company: 50 subjects, each with detailed write-ups on the back. This one carries the Sub Rosa back. A small artifact that says a lot about how the era saw and packaged identity.

1887 Allen & Ginter N3 "Gladiator's Sword" - Arms of All Nations

One of Allen & Ginter's early sets, showcasing armor, weapons, and combatants from across history. Nearly 140 years old. This is one of my favorites from this set.