Caricatured Spaniard, 1 Peseta, from the series Coins of All Nations (N72, variation 2) for Duke brand cigarettes
Medium
Commercial color lithograph
Dimensions
Sheet: 2 3/4 x 1 1/2 in. (7 x 3.8 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
63.350.204.72.89
Tags
Art Historical Context
In 1889, the American tobacco giant W. Duke, Sons & Co. issued this vibrant *Caricatured Spaniard 1 Peseta* as part of their "Coins of All Nations" (N72, variation2). Tucked into Duke cigarette packs, these tiny chromolithographs—measuring just 2¾ x 1½ inches—were ingenious marketing tools, sparking a collecting craze among smokers and children alike. This ephemera captures a humorous, exaggerated depiction of a Spaniard alongside Spain's 1 peseta coin, blending numismatic accuracy with playful caricature to evoke exotic allure. Produced via commercial color lithography, a cutting-edge techni...
About the Artist
W. Duke, Sons & Co. · 1870–1920
**W. Duke, Sons & Co.: Pioneers of Chromolithographic Trade Card Art** W. Duke, Sons & Co., an American tobacco manufacturer, emerged from the entrepreneurial vision of Washington Duke (1820–1905) and his sons in Durham, North Carolina. After the Civil War, Washington abandoned farming in 1874 to join his eldest son, Brodie L. Duke, in the burgeoning tobacco trade, establishing a factory that for...