N189 W.S. Kimball & More
Around 1888-89, W.S. Kimball Cigarettes released their (perhaps now infamous) set titled "Savage and Semi-Barbarous Chiefs and Rulers" (N189). It's a pretty good example of the racist sentiments of the day. Native American chiefs as well as African and Asian rulers are featured dressed in colorful garb. I interpret that the artist intended to portray the rulers as "exotic" and "savage", as the name implies.
In a similar vein, Duke's Cigarettes had a set titled "Coins of All Nations" (N72), although I struggle to recommend this set purely for numismatic inquiry. Each card depicts a caricature that you might interpret as unflattering. For instance, the card for England portrays a "snobbish" woman above the facsimile of a Sovereign.
Collectors interested in the culture norms of the day (American Exceptionalism) will be attracted in these sets, but I imagine they aren’t for everyone.
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