New London Harbor, from the Lighthouses series (N119) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Honest Long Cut Tobacco

Art Historical Context

Welcome to the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department, where showcase everyday treasures like *New London Harbor* from the Lighthouses (N119). This 1889 commercial color lithograph, just 4 1/16 × 2 1/2 inches, captures the sturdy silhouette of a lighthouse guarding Connecticut's bustling New London Harbor. Produced by The Giles Company for W., Sons & Co., it was one of many inserts tucked into packs of Honest Long Cut Tobacco sparking a collecting frenzy among late-19th-century Americans. Chromolithography, the era's go-to technique for vibrant, mass-produced color printing, brought seaside scenes to life affordably, blending artistry with shrewd marketing. Duke, a tobacco industry giant, pioneered these "trade cards" to build brand loyalty, turning smokers into hobbyists who swapped lighthouse views from across the U.S. This ephemera reflects America's Gilded Age obsession with maritime symbols of safety and adventure. Part of the Jefferson R. Burdick Collection—gifted to the Met—this card highlights how advertising fueled popular culture. Next time you visit a harbor, imagine these tiny prints guiding collectors' passions!

About the Artist

The Giles Company|W. Duke, Sons & Co. (American|American) · 1870 |1800 –1920 |1900

New York and Durham, N.C.|New York, NY