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

Editor: This is “Governor Ormsbee, Vermont, from “Governors, Arms, Etc.” series," a print dating from 1885 to 1892 by W. Duke, Sons & Co. It reminds me of a baseball card. What do you see in this piece? Curator: It’s fascinating how the imagery works on so many levels, isn’t it? We see Governor Ormsbee, of course, but framed by symbolic representations of Vermont itself—the coat of arms with its pastoral scene, juxtaposed with a U.S. Navy flag over the "Green Mountains." The advertisement for Duke cigarettes grounds it within the period's commercial culture, reminding us of the powerful imagery employed in early marketing. How do you interpret the symbolic value of combining state iconography with product advertisement? Editor: That’s a good question! I hadn’t thought about the juxtaposition in those terms. So the combination wasn't just random, but it was deliberately associating Vermont's image with a product, for better or worse. Curator: Precisely! Consider the Vermont coat of arms – the deer head and pine tree. These evoke notions of nature, heritage and regional identity. By placing these icons adjacent to Ormsbee's portrait and the Rear Admiral's flag, what statement do you think Duke Cigarettes intended to make? Editor: I guess they wanted to associate their brand with notions of local pride and even…patriotism? Curator: Exactly! This seemingly simple advertisement is rich with visual signifiers and layered meanings, and its intent. Editor: This makes me think differently about commercial imagery. It's not just about selling something, but about tapping into deeper cultural currents. Curator: Indeed. Visual language helps us understand historical identity and cultural memory.