John A. Logan, from the series Great Americans (N76) for Duke brand cigarettes

Art Historical Context

Step into the vibrant world of 19th-century advertising with this petite chromolithograph, *John A. Logan, the series Great Americans (76)*, produced by W. Duke, & Co. in 1888. Measuring just 2¾ × 1½ inches, this colorful trade card features the likeness of John A. Logan, a Civil War Union general and Illinois senator known for his leadership and political influence. Issued inside Duke cigarette packs, it was part of a popular series honoring American heroes, blending patriotism with clever marketing. Chromolithography, the medium here, revolutionized commercial printing by allowing vivid, multi-color images to be mass-produced affordably—a boon for tobacco companies competing fiercely in the Gilded Age. Duke's innovative inserts turned smokers into collectors, boosting brand loyalty amid rising cigarette popularity. This ephemera exemplifies how everyday objects captured national pride and celebrity culture. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Jefferson R. Burdick Collection—a treasure trove of over 30,000 cards gifted in 1948—this print highlights the artistry in advertising. Though small, it packs historical punch, reminding us how commerce shaped our visual memory of "Great Americans."

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...