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

This chromolithograph was created around 1870-1920 by W. Duke, Sons & Co. as an advertisement. We see a steam launch proudly bearing the American flag, a powerful symbol of national identity and progress. The flag’s appearance is significant. Flags—like religious icons—have always been potent symbols that condense complex emotions and loyalties. In ancient Rome, the legionary eagle served a similar purpose, embodying the spirit and might of the empire. The psychological impact of such symbols is profound. They tap into deep-seated feelings of belonging and collective identity, stirring the passions of individuals and uniting them under a shared banner. The evolution of flags reveals how symbols adapt. The stars and stripes have come to mean different things during distinct eras in American history, reflecting a continuous negotiation of national values and identity. This non-linear progression shows the cyclical way symbols resurface and take on new meanings.