Three Hearts (red), from the Playing Cards series (N84) for Duke brand cigarettes 1888

This is "Three Hearts (red)", a playing card from the Playing Cards series (N84) for Duke brand cigarettes, made around 1870-1920 by W. Duke, Sons & Co. These cards were originally included in cigarette packs as a marketing strategy. In an era defined by industrial expansion and shifting social norms, the iconography of playing cards became intertwined with mass culture. Duke's commercial success rode the wave of rising consumerism, yet the cards themselves also mirrored the epoch's attitudes towards luck and chance. Each suit and number carries centuries of cultural baggage, love, conflict, and fate. Red hearts on the face of a card, promise connection, yet, the industry behind it—tobacco—often tells a story of exploitation and harm. Consider how a simple card captures the complexities of its time, a poignant reminder of the intertwined nature of pleasure, risk, and responsibility.