Governor Zulick, Arizona Territory, from "Governors, Arms, Etc." series (N133-2), issued by Duke Sons & Co. 1885 - 1892

Curator: What do you think of this peculiar object? It’s a printed tobacco card from Duke Sons & Co., dating between 1885 and 1892. It features Governor Zulick of Arizona Territory, alongside a pastiche of regional emblems. Editor: It strikes me as… delightfully bizarre! It has this weird, homespun charm, like someone cobbled together different postcards into one grand, slightly absurd tribute to… capitalism? Curator: In a way, that’s not far off! The card functioned as advertising, plain and simple. See how they juxtapose the image of Zulick with regional scenes like the saguaro cactus? Editor: Right, and it's so explicit—"Duke Cigarettes are the best!" brazenly slapped right in the middle, in all caps, no less. But I'm curious, the method of production is particularly striking here, would you agree? Curator: Absolutely. The imagery blends photographic reproduction, with line drawing and collage. It lacks the polish we associate with "high art", yet the printing technology employed here was incredibly advanced for the time. We shouldn't ignore the role of mass production. Editor: Precisely! It democratized art, even if the end goal was simply to push nicotine. Look at how "Governor Zulick" becomes a commodity. Curator: The man and the landscape he governs become promotional tools. "See Arizona! Smoke Duke's!" It really encapsulates the era’s blend of expansionism, industrialization, and raw marketing power. It's strangely seductive, that collage of images— the promise of somewhere, of being someone, wrapped up with consumer pleasure. Editor: It is a testament to how art and commercialism are inescapably entwined. This card feels incredibly modern and incredibly crass. Curator: So it really has been an interesting meditation on this card, this material thing and a reminder that context is crucial. Thanks for shining light on this. Editor: Thanks for this thought-provoking reminder to interrogate everything we think we know about value and visibility in our visually oversaturated world.