Looking Out for Number One, from the Jokes series (N87) for Duke brand cigarettes 1890

This humorous trade card, titled “Looking Out for No. 1”, was created by W. Duke, Sons & Co. for their Duke brand cigarettes in 1890. The card depicts a woman in a long dress and a red hat sitting on a stool, while a man in a suit and striped trousers holds up a pair of shoes. The playful scene emphasizes the importance of personal wellbeing, as the man appears to be offering the woman a pair of new shoes while she is already wearing a pair of shoes, implying that he is looking out for himself by offering her the shoes. This card was likely used as a promotional material for Duke cigarettes, using humor to capture the attention of potential consumers. The card is part of the “Jokes” series, which likely consisted of other humorous illustrations that promoted the Duke brand.