Queen Victoria of England, from the Rulers, Flags, and Coats of Arms series (N126-2) issued by W. Duke, Sons & Co. 1888

This lithograph of Queen Victoria's coat of arms was made by W. Duke & Sons, an American tobacco company, between 1870 and 1920. Tobacco companies would often include collectible cards like this in their packaging. The image promotes ideas about nation, empire, and authority. The British coat of arms is a potent visual symbol of the monarchy. The card is an advertisement that appropriates those associations of authority and quality. The card also embodies the commercial and cultural relationship between the United States and Great Britain. This speaks to the global reach of British culture and the ways in which the United States, even after its independence, remained fascinated by the symbols of the British monarchy. Understanding this image requires examining company records and commercial histories, and contextualizing it within histories of British imperialism and American popular culture.