Steamship Valencia, Red D. Line, from the Ocean and River Steamers series (N83) for Duke brand cigarettes 1887

This is a promotional card for Duke brand cigarettes, likely made around the turn of the 20th century. It’s printed on cardstock, using a chromolithographic process that allowed for cheap, colorful images to be mass-produced. The card features the steamship Valencia, part of the ‘Red D Line,’ surrounded by patriotic imagery and a portrait of a woman. The steamship itself speaks to the technological advancements of the era, while the printing method reflects the rise of industrial capitalism and mass consumption. These cards were designed to be collected, traded, and pasted into albums, creating a social world around smoking. Consider the skilled labor that went into creating this seemingly simple object, from the artists who designed the image to the factory workers who printed and packaged the cards. It bridges the gap between advertising, art, and everyday life, reminding us of the complex relationships between commerce and culture.