Tobacco Card Collection

Collection

Identifier: SC-MS-064

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Cigarette cards were a common form of advertising in the late 1800s. This collection contains thirty-four tobacco cards, two larger size color posters, and an envelope with a printed return address of "W.H. Lowdermilk & Co." located in Washington, DC. All items are undated.

Dates

Creation: Undated

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research use.

Copyright Statement

Copyright retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.

Historical Note

J.B. (Buck) Duke of Durham, North Carolina used a New York form of advertising to corner the market of cigarettes and other tobacco products sales during the late 1800s. Picture cards with portraits of popular personages of the day were used to attract buyers for products. Duke’s cards were multipurpose; they were used to help stiffen the packages as well as provide inducements for buying his products. The cards were redeemable for gifts.

Extent

1 Folder (Contains 1 folder.)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Acquisition Information

This collection was donated by Dr. Samuel T. Chambers to the Museum of World Cultures on May 12, 1972. It was transferred to Special Collections by Dr. Gerald Shinn on November 17, 1989.

Processing Information

Originally processed by Lana Donaldson Taylor in 1989. In 2014, this manuscript collection was re-foldered and re-housed with current archival standard materials by Christine Hockaday.