Lying Out of It, from the Jokes series (N87) for Duke brand cigarettes

Art Historical Context

In the late 19th century, American tobacco companies like W., Sons & Co. revolutionized advertising with colorful insert cards tucked into cigarette packs, turning everyday purchases into collectibles. *Lying Out of It from the Jokes seriesN87) produced around 1890, exemplifies trend. This diminutive chromolithograph—measuring just 2¾ × 1½ inches—likely depicts a humorous scene of evasion or mischief, part of a set designed to entertain smokers and encourage brand loyalty for Duke cigarettes. Printed by George S. Harris & Sons, it captures the playful wit of the era's commercial ephemera. Chromolithography, the medium here, was a breakthrough technique allowing vibrant, multi-color prints at scale, mimicking hand-painted artwork affordably. These cards bridged art and commerce, blending lithography's precision with mass-market appeal during the Gilded Age's advertising boom. As part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Jefferson R. Burdick Collection—a treasure trove of over 30,000 American cards gifted in 1948—this piece highlights how everyday objects became cultural artifacts. Today, *Lying Out of It* offers a window into Victorian-era humor and consumer culture, reminding us how tobacco giants like Duke shaped collecting hobbies that prefigured modern trading cards. A tiny gem, it invites visitors to appreciate the artistry in advertising's golden age.

About the Artist

W. Duke, Sons & Co.|George S. Harris & Sons · 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...