George I, King of Greece, from the Rulers, Flags, and Coats of Arms series (N126-2) issued by W. Duke, Sons & Co. 1888

This small chromolithograph, likely produced between 1870 and 1920 by W. Duke, Sons & Co., presents the coat of arms for George I, King of Greece, as part of a series on rulers, flags, and coats of arms. The image, printed on a small card, features a shield with a centered cross, crowned and flanked by decorative flourishes. The composition is notably symmetrical. The shield’s blue field and the gold cross create a stark contrast, emphasizing the cross as the central emblem. The crown, rendered in red and gold, adds another layer of symbolic weight. The flourishes, which are pink, frame the coat of arms and soften the geometric severity of the heraldic design. The text, including ‘Coat of Arms’ and ‘Greece,’ functions as labels, reinforcing the image's representational purpose. These cards, distributed by tobacco companies, served as both advertising and collectible items. The coat of arms operates as a signifier of national identity, and the overall design blends heraldic tradition with the commercial aesthetics of its time. It invites us to reflect on how symbols of power and identity are circulated and consumed within broader cultural contexts.