Lively Game, from the Talk of the Diamond set (N135) issued by Duke Sons & Co., a branch of the American Tobacco Company 1888

"Lively Game" is a humorous lithograph from the "Talk of the Diamond" set, issued by the American Tobacco Company in 1888. The image depicts a comical scene of a man running from a bear while a dog chases him and another man plays baseball in the background. The colorful, cartoon-like style of the illustration is typical of trade cards from the late 19th century. The card was likely distributed as a promotional item for Duke Sons & Co., a branch of the American Tobacco Company, and would have been popular with consumers who enjoyed baseball and other forms of entertainment. This card, which now resides in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, is a wonderful example of the unique and engaging artwork that was used to advertise consumer products in the late 19th century.