Louise Paullin in Colors of Central Hudson Yacht Club, from the Yacht Colors of the World series (N140) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Honest Long Cut Tobacco 1890

This is a promotional card for Honest Long Cut Tobacco, made by W. Duke Sons & Co. sometime between 1870 and 1920. In the late 19th century, businesses included collectible cards in their products as a marketing strategy. This card is part of a series titled "Yacht Colors of the World," and features Louise Paullin adorned in the colors of the Central Hudson Yacht Club. The sport of yachting was associated with wealth and leisure, and therefore, success. These cards were intended to associate the consumption of tobacco with an aspirational lifestyle. To understand this image, we need to research the history of advertising and the social function of clubs in the late 19th century United States. It presents a fascinating intersection of commerce, leisure, and social identity.