Shrove-Tide, Denmark, from the Holidays series (N80) for Duke brand cigarettes

Art Historical Context

In the late 19th century, tobacco companies like W., Sons & Co. advertising with colorful collectible cards tucked into cigarette packs. This petite chromolithograph, *Shrove-Tide,*, from the 1890 Holidays series (N), exemplifies that trend. Printed by George S Harris & Sons, the measures just 2¾ x 1½ inches, designed for easy collection and trade among enthusiasts. Part of The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Jefferson R. Burdick Collection it captures the festive spirit of Shrovetide—a lively pre-Lenten celebration akin to Mardi Gras—in Denmark, likely featuring women in traditional attire amid carnival merriment. Chromolithography, the medium here, was a breakthrough technique allowing vibrant, multi-color prints at scale, making high-quality art accessible to the masses. These ephemera cards blended commercial savvy with cultural snapshots, educating smokers on global holidays while building brand loyalty. Duke's series, numbering dozens, turned everyday purchases into a hobby, foreshadowing modern trading cards. Today, this tiny gem highlights ephemera's artistic value: what was once disposable now preserves 1890s visual culture, from printing innovation to cross-cultural festivity. A delightful window into Victorian-era marketing and merriment!

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...