Ulysses S. Grant, from the series Great Americans (N76) for Duke brand cigarettes

Art Historical Context

This petite chromolithograph, *Ulysses S. Grant, from the series Great Americans (N76)*, produced by W. Duke, Sons & Co. in 1888, captures the stern visage of the Civil War hero and 18th U.S.. Measuring just 2¾ × 1½ inches, it was designed as an insert for Duke brand cigarette packs, part of a booming late-19th-century trend where tobacco companies bundled collectible cards to boost sales and foster loyalty among smokers. Chromolithography, the medium here, allowed for vibrant, mass-produced color printing at low cost, making these "trade cards" accessible ephemera that celebrated American icons. The N76 series honored "Great Americans" like Grant, reflecting post-Civil War national pride and the era's hero worship. Today, such cards highlight the intersection of commerce, celebrity, and collecting culture. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Jefferson R. Burdick Collection—a landmark gift of over 30,000 cards—this piece underscores how everyday advertising artifacts preserve history, offering a tangible glimpse into 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...