Steamship State of Indiana, State Line, from the Ocean and River Steamers series (N83) for Duke brand cigarettes 1887

This chromolithograph of the Steamship State of Indiana was created around 1888 by W. Duke, Sons & Co. as part of a series of collectible cards included in their cigarette packs. The image presents a layered tableau: a portrait of a fashionable woman is juxtaposed with the steamship cutting through the waves below, while flags flutter in the background, signalling the ship's identity and destination. This was an era of rapid industrialization, the popular image is rife with symbols of national pride, technological advancement and commercial aspiration, all neatly packaged as a consumer good. What's more, the integration of the image in the commercial space, made collecting cards such as these a widespread cultural phenomenon. The W. Duke & Sons Tobacco Company would eventually become part of the American Tobacco Company, a monopoly which was later dismantled by the Sherman Antitrust Act. The meaning of this humble card lies within its complex social and institutional history. To understand this, we might consult business archives, advertising ephemera, and collections of popular culture, all of which bring us closer to understanding the intricate relationship between art, commerce, and society.