Governor Wilson, West Virginia, from "Governors, Arms, Etc." series (N133-1), issued by Duke Sons & Co. 1885 - 1892

This is a lithograph trading card of Governor Wilson of West Virginia, printed by W. Duke Sons & Co. between 1870 and 1920. This small card encapsulates the visual rhetoric of its time, revealing much about the values and aspirations of the late 19th century. On the left, the West Virginia coat of arms rises above a fiery industrial scene, celebrating labor and the state’s iron works. Juxtapose this with the right panel, which depicts the White Sulphur Springs, a resort promising health and leisure. In the center is Governor Wilson, an individual meant to embody both these domains of labor and leisure. The card offers a snapshot of the post-Civil War South, a region grappling with industrialization, racial tensions, and its place in a changing nation. These cards were more than just collectibles. They were powerful tools shaping public perception, defining identity, and promoting an idealized vision of progress.