French Fishing Smack, from the Types of Vessels series (N139) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Honest Long Cut Tobacco 1889

This small card showing a French Fishing Smack was one of a series issued by the W. Duke, Sons & Co. to promote Honest Long Cut Tobacco between 1889 and 1910. The image shows fishermen working on a small boat. Duke's "Types of Vessels" cards were collected by smokers and speak to the growth of consumer culture in the late 19th century United States. Tobacco companies had a vested interest in promoting their products as widely as possible, so they printed images with broad appeal. Trade cards like these offer a fascinating glimpse into the social and cultural landscape of the period, revealing a growing interest in international subjects and the rise of mass-produced collectible items. Understanding images like these requires an interdisciplinary approach. Historians might consult business records, advertising ephemera, and sociological studies of consumer culture to more fully appreciate the context and the meaning of these cards.