Football, "Oh my Shin," from the Terrors of America set (N136) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Honest Long Cut Tobacco

Art Historical Context

Step into the vibrant world of 19th-century American advertising with *Football, "Oh my,"* a tiny gem from the "Terrors of America" (N136). Issued by W. Duke Sons & Co. in 1888–89 to promote their Honest Long Cut Tobacco, commercial color lithograph was produced by Knapp & Company. Measuring just 2¾ × 1½ inches, it captures the rough-and-tumble spirit of early American football through a humorous nod to the game's bruises—hence the cheeky title evoking a shin-kicking mishap. Part of a popular series likely aimed at boys, these cards were collectibles tucked into tobacco packages, blending sport, comedy, and commerce. Chromolithography, the medium here, brought bold, eye-catching colors to mass-produced prints, revolutionizing advertising ephemera. This technique allowed for vivid depictions that made the cards irresistible to young collectors, reflecting football's rising popularity in an era when the sport was still raw and unregulated, far from today's polished NFL. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department as part of The Jefferson R. Burdick Collection, this piece highlights how everyday objects preserved slices of cultural history. It reminds us of tobacco's role in shaping youth hobbies while offering a lighthearted glimpse into Gilded Age play—and pain.

About the Artist

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

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