Caricatured figure from the Congo, 2 Francs, from the series Coins of All Nations (N72, variation 2) for Duke brand cigarettes

Art Historical Context

Step into the vibrant world of 19th-century advertising with this diminutive gem: a commercial color lithograph from 1889, produced by W. Duke, Sons & Co. Titled *Caricatured figure from the Congo, 2 Francs*, it belongs to the *Coins of All Nations* series (N72, variation 2), small inserts tucked into Duke brand cigarette packs. At just 2¾ x 1½ inches, these ephemera cards were collectibles designed to boost sales amid fierce tobacco industry competition, sparking a craze for trading cards that endures today. Lithography's magic shines here, enabling vivid, mass-produced color on a tiny scale—perfect for pocket-sized allure. The exaggerated depiction of a Congolese figure tied to a 2 Francs coin reflects the era's global curiosity, blending numismatics with exoticism during Europe's colonial scramble for Africa. Duke's innovative marketing not only popularized cigarettes but preserved cultural snapshots, now valued as historical artifacts. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department, this piece from The Jefferson R. Burdick Collection highlights ephemera's artistic merit, offering a window into Victorian commerce, imperialism, and the allure of the "other." A tiny portal to a big world!

About the Artist

W. Duke, Sons & Co. · 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...