Dressed Beef, from the Jokes series (N87) for Duke brand cigarettes 1890

"Dressed Beef" is a humorous, anthropomorphic depiction of a cow wearing a top hat, bowtie, and monocle. Part of the "Jokes" series of cigarette cards commissioned by W. Duke, Sons & Co. in 1890, this card is an example of the popular genre of advertising using humor and relatable imagery to appeal to consumers. The card's whimsical style, likely intended to be a lighthearted play on the image of a butchered cow, exemplifies the use of advertising to promote a product while engaging the viewer. "Dressed Beef" is a testament to the creative and often witty nature of early advertising campaigns.