George I, King of Greece, from the Rulers, Flags, and Coats of Arms series (N126-2) issued by W. Duke, Sons & Co.

Art Historical Context

Step into the vibrant world of 19th ephemera with this charming commercial color lithograph from 1888, featuring *George I, King of*, part of the *Rulers, Flags, Coats of Arms* (N126-2) issued by W. Duke Sons & Co. Measuring just 2¾ × 4¼ inches (and even smaller when folded), this petite print was designed for easy distribution, likely tucked into cigarette packages as a collectible incentive. Produced by the pioneering American tobacco firm, it captures the era's craze for trading cards, blending portraiture with national symbols like flags and coats of arms to appeal to a wide audience of enthusiasts. George I, a Danish prince who reigned as King of Greece from 1863 until his assassination in 1913, symbolized modern monarchy amid Europe's shifting political landscape. This lithograph immortalizes him in regal profile, evoking the grandeur of royal portraiture while educating viewers on global rulers—a nod to growing international awareness fueled by print media and empire-building. Chromolithography, the medium here, revolutionized commercial art with its vivid, multi-layered colors printed from stones, enabling mass production of eye-catching designs at low cost. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Jefferson R. Burdick Collection, this ephemera highlights everyday objects as cultural artifacts, revealing how tobacco companies shaped popular collecting and visual culture in Gilded Age America.

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...