American Cruiser, Bark Rigged, from the Types of Vessels series (N139) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Honest Long Cut Tobacco

Art Historical Context

Step into the bustling world of 1880s American advertising with *American Cruiser, Bark Rig*, a vibrant commercial color lithograph from *Types of Vessels* seriesN139). Issued by. Duke, Sons & Co. to promote their Honest Long Cut Tobacco, this card—measuring just 2 7/16 × 3 15/16 inches—was likely tucked into tobacco packages as a collectible incentive. Produced by lithographers Knapp & Company with design input from Giles, it captures the majestic form of a bark-rigged cruiser, a three-masted sailing ship blending speed and cargo capacity, emblematic of America's seafaring prowess in the age of steam's rise. The artwork's charm lies in its chromolithographic technique, where multiple stone plates layered vivid colors to create striking, affordable images for mass distribution. As ephemera, it offers a window into Gilded Age commerce, when tobacco giants like Duke pioneered trading card sets to hook consumers—foreshadowing modern marketing. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department, thanks to the Jefferson R. Burdick Collection, this piece preserves not just maritime history but the colorful ephemera of everyday commerce. Admire how such a small print sails through time, blending naval typology with entrepreneurial flair!

About the Artist

Knapp & Company|Giles|W. Duke, Sons & Co. (American|American) · |1870 – |1920

American, New York|New York and Durham, N.C.