A Foul Ball, from the Talk of the Diamond set (N135) issued by Duke Sons & Co., a branch of the American Tobacco Company

Art Historical Context

Step into the vibrant world of 1880s America with *A Foul Ball*, a chromolithograph from the "Talk of the Diamond" (N135). Issued by W. Duke, Sons & Co.—a branch of the American Company—this tiny card (just 2½ × 4⅛ inches) captures the era's baseball craze through a humorous scene blending men, baseball action, chickens, and horses. Produced lithographers Schumacher & Ettlinger, it exemplifies commercial color printing, where multiple stone plates layered vivid hues to create affordable, eye-catching ephemera for collectors, especially boys trading cards tucked into cigarette packs. Baseball, America's burgeoning pastime, exploded in popularity post-Civil War, and tobacco companies cleverly promoted their products with themed inserts like these. "Talk of the Diamond" illustrated baseball slang, turning "foul ball" into a lively, narrative snapshot—perhaps a mishap scattering barnyard chaos on the diamond's edge. This technique made lithographs accessible art, bridging advertising and pop culture. Today, housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Jefferson R. Burdick Collection, it highlights ephemera's role in preserving everyday history. A charming relic of Gilded Age leisure, it reminds us how sports, commerce, and whimsy intertwined. (198 words)

About the Artist

American Tobacco Company|Schumacher & Ettlinger|W. Duke, Sons & Co. · 1826–1909

**American Tobacco Company (1890–1911)** Founded on January 31, 1890, in Durham, North Carolina, by James Buchanan Duke, the American Tobacco Company emerged from the consolidation of five major U.S. tobacco manufacturers: W. Duke & Sons, Allen & Ginter, Goodwin & Company, W.S. Kimball & Co., and Kinney Brothers. Under Duke's aggressive leadership, it rapidly achieved monopoly status, controlling...