Lying Out of It, from the Jokes series (N87) for Duke brand cigarettes 1890

This trade card from the *Jokes* series, *Lying Out of It*, (N87) was created by W. Duke, Sons & Co. in 1890 as an advertisement for Duke brand cigarettes. The card depicts a man sprawled on the floor, apparently passed out, with a bottle of liquor lying beside him. The image is a humorous take on the dangers of overindulgence and a play on words, with the man “lying out of it” due to his inebriation. The card was part of a larger set of trade cards that were given out to customers to promote the Duke brand of cigarettes. These cards, while promoting a product, were also intended to entertain and engage customers with humorous imagery. The *Jokes* series, in particular, is a collection of colorful and sometimes crude illustrations, reflecting a sense of humor and entertainment that was common in the late 19th century. The card is now housed in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.