Parallel Bar, Handspring, from the Gymnastic Exercises series (N77) for Duke brand cigarettes 1887

"Parallel Bar, Handspring" is a trade card from the "Gymnastic Exercises" series, created in 1887 by W. Duke, Sons & Co. as an advertisement for Duke brand cigarettes. The image depicts a gymnast performing a handspring on the parallel bars. The vibrant red and blue striped leotard and the dotted background create a dynamic and eye-catching design, typical of late 19th-century advertising. These trade cards, common in the late 1800s, were often collected for their whimsical illustrations and served as a form of early brand marketing.