Morning Glories: Bonds of Affection, from the series Floral Beauties and Language of Flowers (N75) for Duke brand cigarettes

Art Historical Context

This charming 1892 commercial color lithograph, titled *Morning Glories: Bonds of Affection*, belongs to the *Floral Beauties and Language of Flowers* series (N75) created for Duke brand cigarettes. Produced by the Donaldson Brothers for the American Tobacco Company, the tiny print—measuring just 2¾ by 1½ inches—served as a collectible trade card tucked into cigarette packs. Such ephemera helped popularize color lithography as an affordable advertising medium during the late Victorian era, transforming everyday tobacco packaging into miniature works of art. The image draws on the popular “language of flowers,” a sentimental Victorian custom in which blooms conveyed unspoken emotions. Morning glories, shown here alongside graceful female figures, traditionally symbolized affection and deep bonds, aligning perfectly with the card’s poetic subtitle. These cards blended beauty, romance, and subtle marketing, encouraging collectors to acquire the full floral series while promoting Duke’s products. Today, this delicate print resides in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Jefferson R. Burdick Collection, offering a window into how commercial art shaped popular culture and visual literacy in the 1890s.

About the Artist

Donaldson Brothers|American Tobacco Company (American| ) · 1850 | –1870 |

American, New York|