A Short History of General James Garfield, from the Histories of Generals series (N114) issued by W. Duke, Sons & Co. to promote Honest Long Cut Smoking and Chewing Tobacco

Art Historical Context

Step into the vibrant world of 19th-century American advertising with *A Short History of General Garfield*, a gem from the *Histories Generals* series (114). Produced in 1888 by W. Duke, Sons & Co.—pioneers in the tobacco industry—and printed by Knapp & Company, this petite commercial color lithograph (just 4 3/16 × 2 1/2 inches) served as a promotional insert for their Honest Long Cut Smoking and Che Tobacco. Tucked into product packages, these cards turned everyday purchases into collectible treasures, blending patriotism with commerce. The artwork features a portrait of James Garfield, celebrated Civil War general and briefly the 20th U.S. President, assassinated in 1881. Captured in the bold hues of chromolithography—a revolutionary technique for affordable, mass-produced color prints—it encapsulates post-Civil War hero worship. Such ephemera highlighted military leaders' exploits, fostering national pride while boosting sales in an era when tobacco cards rivaled early baseball cards in popularity. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department, thanks to the Jefferson R. Burdick Collection, this piece reveals how everyday objects shaped culture. It invites us to ponder the intersection of art, advertising, and history—proof that even tiny prints can pack a powerful punch.

About the Artist

W. Duke, Sons & Co.|Knapp & Company · 1870–1920

**W. Duke, Sons & Co.: Pioneers of Chromolithographic Trade Card Art** W. Duke, Sons & Co., an American tobacco manufacturer, emerged from the entrepreneurial vision of Washington Duke (1820–1905) and his sons in Durham, North Carolina. After the Civil War, Washington abandoned farming in 1874 to join his eldest son, Brodie L. Duke, in the burgeoning tobacco trade, establishing a factory that for...