Vermont, from the Industries of States series (N117) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Honest Long Cut Tobacco

Art Historical Context

Step into the vibrant world of 19th American advertising with *Vermont*, a gem from the *Industries of States* series (117), produced in 1889 by W. Duke, Sons & Co. to promote their Honest Long Cut Tobacco. This commercial color lithograph, measuring just 4 3/16 × 2 1/2 inches, was likely distributed as a collectible insert in cigarette packs, enticing smokers with colorful imagery while celebrating regional pride. Part of a popular series highlighting U.S. states' industries it features allegorical motifs like female nudes with shields—common in the era's decorative ephemera—symbolizing Vermont's rugged heritage, perhaps evoking its marble quarries or forested landscapes. Chromolithography, the medium here, revolutionized mass printing by layering vibrant colors from stone plates, making high-quality illustrations affordable and widespread. Duke's cards exemplify Gilded Age marketing savvy, blending artistry with commerce to build brand loyalty amid fierce tobacco competition. Collected avidly today, this piece from The Jefferson R. Burdick Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art offers a window into how everyday objects immortalized national identity and gendered symbolism. Though ephemeral by design, such prints hold lasting cultural value, revealing evolving tastes in advertising and the intersection of industry, nationalism, and visual allure in late Victorian 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...