Kentucky, from the Industries of States series (N117) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Honest Long Cut Tobacco 1889

This colorful tobacco card, created around 1889 by W. Duke, Sons & Co., presents a classical allegory of Kentucky. A female figure, adorned with a laurel wreath, evokes the ancient goddesses of prosperity and peace. She leans on a shield that displays two men shaking hands, symbolizing unity and commerce within the state. The laurel wreath, a symbol of victory and honor since ancient Greece, reappears throughout history, from Roman emperors to Renaissance paintings, each time carrying connotations of triumph. The handshake, equally potent, evolved from a gesture of peace to a symbol of agreement and partnership, bridging cultures and centuries. Here it suggests reconciliation, echoing subconscious desires for harmony and collective progress. Such imagery taps into a deep, universal yearning for peace and prosperity, engaging viewers with its psychological weight and cultural echoes. The symbolic fusion of classical ideals with American commerce creates an evocative, cyclical narrative.