William Penn, from the series Great Americans (N76) for Duke brand cigarettes 1888

This card of William Penn, printed by W. Duke, Sons & Co., was part of a series of collectible cards included with Duke brand cigarettes. Lithography, a printing process using flat stones or metal plates, allowed for mass production and vibrant colors, essential for attracting customers. The card depicts Penn in fine detail, but consider how the very means of its production—the intense labor, the commodification of images, and the link to a tobacco empire—influence its meaning. The text at the bottom boasts "The Largest Cigarette Manufacturers in the World", a mark of industrialized consumption. The card presents Penn, alongside the suggestion of a peaceful treaty with indigenous people. We must ask ourselves, how are these images implicated in a much larger story of labor, politics, and consumption?