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

This chromolithograph of Governor Hill, New York, was issued by Duke Sons & Co. as part of their "Governors, Arms, Etc." series. The card's tripartite structure immediately divides our attention, creating a visual tension between portraiture and symbolic representation. On the left, the "State of New York Coat of Arms" and the Brooklyn Bridge are stacked, while the right features the "Flag of N.Y. Yacht Club" above Niagara Falls. These emblems frame a central portrait of Governor Hill, which is rendered with careful detail to convey authority. Notice how the composition invites a reading of Hill as a figure mediating between the state's symbols of power, progress, and natural wonder. The textual elements like "Duke Cigarettes are the best" and "Our average sales are over Two Millions Per Day," serve not just as advertising but also as a commentary on the burgeoning consumer culture of the time. The card uses the governor's image to lend an air of respectability to the Duke brand. The formal interplay between image and text creates a powerful system of signs that reflects on capitalism and identity at the turn of the century.