A Short History: General Robert E. Lee, from the Histories of Generals series (N114) issued by W. Duke, Sons & Co. to promote Honest Long Cut Smoking and Chewing Tobacco
Medium
Commercial color lithograph
Dimensions
Sheet: 4 3/16 × 2 1/2 in. (10.7 × 6.4 cm)
Classification
Prints|Ephemera
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Jefferson R. Burdick Collection, Gift of Jefferson R. Burdick
Accession Number
63.350.206.114.64
Tags
Art Historical Context
In the late 19th century, American tobacco companies like W., Sons & Co. blended history with marketing through collectible cards inserted into their products. This 1888 commercial color lithograph, *A Short History: General E. Lee*, is a prime example from the *Hist of Generals* seriesN114), promoting "Honest Long Cut Smoking Chewing Tobacco." Produced by Knapp & Company for Duke, the petite card (just 4 3/16 × 2 1/2 inches) features portrait of the famed Confederate general amid symbols of military valor—cannons, flags, and evocations of leadership—designed to captivate smokers and collector...
About the Artist
Knapp & Company|W. Duke, Sons & Co. (American|American) · |1870 – |1920
American, New York|New York and Durham, N.C.