Humbert I, King of Italy, from the Rulers, Flags, and Coats of Arms series (N126-1) issued by W. Duke, Sons & Co.

Art Historical Context

Step into the vibrant world of 19th-century advertising with this petite commercial color lithograph,Humbert I, King of Italy*, from theRulers, Flags, Coats of Arms* series (N126-1), issued by W. Duke Sons & Co. in 1888. Measuring just 2½ × 4⅜ inches, this tiny treasure portrays Umberto I, who reigned as King of Italy from 1878 to 1900 during a pivotal era of national unification and European monarchy. Flanked by Italian flags and a heraldic coat of arms, it captures the grandeur of royal portraiture in a format designed for everyday delight. Produced via chromolithography—a revolutionary printing technique that allowed for vivid, multi-color reproduction at scale—this ephemera was likely tucked into Duke's tobacco products to entice collectors. W. Duke, Sons & Co., a powerhouse in the American tobacco trade, popularized such series, blending education with marketing to fuel a collecting craze. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department, it forms part of The Jefferson R. Burdick Collection, a gift celebrating one man's passion for these humble yet historically rich inserts. Today, it whispers of global fascination with kings and empires, reminding us how everyday objects preserved portraits of power amid Italy's Risorgimento legacy. A charming snapshot of commerce, culture, and kingship!

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...