Minnie Dupree in Colors of the Royal Irish Yacht Club, from the Yacht Colors of the World series (N140) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Honest Long Cut Tobacco 1890

This promotional card, made around 1900 by W. Duke, Sons & Co., presents Minnie Dupree adorned in the colors of the Royal Irish Yacht Club. The most compelling symbol here is the nautical wheel at the bottom, a motif that navigates through time. Consider how the wheel, an ancient invention, appears in various guises across cultures. Initially a simple tool, its circular form evokes the cyclical nature of life. Here, it represents not just maritime travel but also exploration, adventure, and the connection between distant lands. We see echoes of this in ancient sun wheels and cosmological diagrams. The symbol reflects a deep-seated longing for progress and discovery, as well as a yearning for home. The wheel’s evolution, from a basic instrument to a potent cultural symbol, is a testament to our collective memory, forever turning.