President Hertenstein of Switzerland, from the Rulers, Flags, and Coats of Arms series (N126-2) issued by W. Duke, Sons & Co.

Art Historical Context

Step into the vibrant world of 19th-century ephemera with *President Hertenstein of*, a charming commercial color lithograph from W. Duke, Sons & Co.'s *Rulers, Flags, Coats of Arms* (N126-2), produced in 1888. This petite print, measuring just 2¾ × 4¼ inches (and even smaller when folded), likely captures the Swiss leader alongside heraldic symbols like the country's coat of arms and floral, blending portraiture with national pride. Issued by the prominent American tobacco firm W. Duke, Sons & Co., this card exemplifies the era's marketing ingenuity. Chromolithography—a revolutionary printing technique—enabled mass production of vivid, multicolored images at low cost, perfect for tucking into cigarette packs as collectibles. These "trade cards" fueled a collecting craze, educating the public on global leaders, flags, and emblems while boosting sales. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department as part of The Jefferson R. Burdick Collection, this piece highlights everyday objects as cultural artifacts. Its survival speaks to the enduring appeal of such humble yet colorful snapshots of history, inviting us to appreciate how commerce and nationalism intertwined in Gilded Age America.

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...