Ocean Steamship Company, from the Ocean and River Steamers series (N83) for Duke brand cigarettes 1887

This colorful lithograph, part of the “Ocean and River Steamers” series, depicts the steamship “City of Birmingham”, one of the vessels operated by the Ocean Steamship Company. Created as a trade card for Duke brand cigarettes, the artwork features an oval image of the ship at sea with the name “City of Birmingham” visible on the hull. The image is framed by American and British flags, and a woman’s face appears below. This trade card reflects the popularity of steamships in the late 19th century.