Oyster Sloop, from the Types of Vessels series (N139) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Honest Long Cut Tobacco 1889

Editor: Here we have a trade card from 1889, "Oyster Sloop" made by W. Duke, Sons & Co. promoting Honest Long Cut Tobacco. I'm struck by its delicate, almost whimsical rendering of a working vessel. What do you see when you look at this piece? Curator: Well, firstly, it's a fleeting snapshot of Americana, isn’t it? The oyster sloop itself, with its impossibly tall sail, cutting through waves rendered in swooping strokes, becomes an emblem of that era’s particular blend of industrial ambition and raw, untamed nature. I see not just a boat, but a vessel carrying dreams of prosperity on its deck. The artist's medium is also intriguing—a sort of hybrid drawing-print infused with watercolor washes. Does this speak to anything in particular for you? Editor: Yes, that interplay is interesting, a high-end treatment of what seems to be an advertisement. The artist elevated what otherwise may be easily discarded. Why do you call it a 'fleeting' snapshot of Americana? Curator: Fleeting because trade cards are ephemeral things, intended to be used and discarded. This oyster sloop isn't meant to last—only to grab your attention long enough to make you want to buy some tobacco. Yet, here we are, over a century later, pondering its delicate artistry. Think about that. It is really charming; and perhaps what survives transcends its original intention! Editor: Absolutely! That definitely changes how I think about this piece. From simple advertising, to a glimpse of our past that would have otherwise been forgotten! Curator: Indeed. The journey of a humble trade card, across time and intention, mirroring the sloop's own journey across the water, towards an unforeseen horizon.