Machines which would produce silk embroidery were developed in the late 19th century,
and souvenirs were produced for the American Centennian Exposition in Philadelphia in 1876. This was at the same time as the hey-day of "store cards," but it would take another major change to make these small silk flags possible.
That change was the development of the cigarette. A small card was used to stiffen the small packets, and by the early twentieth century it was clear that people would collect printed cards.
The tobacco companies in the United States were part of a "trust" which was broken up, and the advertising competition really took off. Companies tried to make the most popular cards they could, just as the modern card companies produce fancy insert cards.
Some unknown person took a look back at what had been done before, for souvenirs, and decided that a silk insert would do very well indeed. Here we are able to show some of the "national flag" series from "Richmond Straight Cut."
"Silks" are very collectable, and offer a glimpse into the world before World War I.
Canada was still a Dominion of the British Empire, and Western Australia was still one of the Australian States. Siam had not yet become Thailand. Russia still had an Imperial Eagle, as did Germany. The Netherlands still held the Dutch Indies, now Indonesia, and Venezuela
was still a young nation after its rule by Spain.
