Governor Adams, Colorado, from "Governors, Arms, Etc." series (N133-2), issued by Duke Sons & Co. 1885 - 1892

This is a lithograph from around 1890, produced by W. Duke, Sons & Co. as part of their "Governors, Arms, Etc." series. The image connects Governor Adams of Colorado with symbols of the state and with the Duke cigarette brand. Here, the visual codes speak to the ambitions of American industry at the time. The Colorado coat of arms, the image of mining tools, and the depiction of the landscape point to the state’s booming mining industry. The U.S. Revenue Pennant and the claim to be the "largest cigarette manufacturers in the world" reflect the company's ambition. Cigarette cards like these were enormously popular at the time, and they offer us a glimpse into the way corporations branded themselves by associating their products with ideas of regional pride, economic progress, and national identity. To understand the significance of this image, it would be helpful to consult business archives, advertising ephemera, and state historical society records. This little cigarette card is a reminder that art can be found in unexpected places.