John M. Palmer of Illinois, from the Presidential Possibilities series (N124) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Honest Long Cut Tobacco 1888

This small chromolithograph was created by W. Duke, Sons & Co. around 1888 as a promotional item for their "Honest Long Cut Tobacco." It features John M. Palmer of Illinois, as part of a "Presidential Possibilities" series. These cards weren't high art but were important cultural artifacts. The late 19th century saw an explosion of advertising, and tobacco companies were at the forefront, using colorful images to capture public attention. The image of Palmer, a former governor and senator, links the product to ideas of integrity and leadership. It speaks to the role of commercial imagery in shaping political perceptions. The fact that it was distributed freely also challenges the traditional art world where access to images was limited by wealth and class. Understanding this image requires looking at sources beyond art history books. Social histories of advertising and studies of political culture can reveal the complex ways these images functioned in their time.