A Short History of General Joe Hooker, from the Histories of Generals series (N114) issued by W. Duke, Sons & Co. to promote Honest Long Cut Smoking and Chewing Tobacco 1888

This colorful trade card, printed by W. Duke Sons & Co. between 1870 and 1920, presents a vignette of General Joe Hooker to promote their smoking and chewing tobacco. These cards were a key marketing strategy in the late 19th century, and this example reflects a broader cultural landscape shaped by the Civil War and the rise of consumer culture. The image employs visual codes associated with patriotism and heroism, leveraging Hooker's military reputation to sell tobacco products. Consider the social conditions that allowed for the commercialization of military figures. Was this purely a commercial venture, or were there deeper political implications? Historians analyze such images by consulting trade catalogs and business records to understand their production and distribution. This helps us to reveal the complex interplay between commerce, politics, and popular memory in American history.