Puzzle Card Number 2, from the Jokes series (N118) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Honest Long Cut Tobacco 1887 - 1891

This is Puzzle Card Number 2, from the Jokes series, made around 1900 by W. Duke, Sons & Co. to promote Honest Long Cut Tobacco. The image shows a playful and colourful design incorporating a word puzzle that invites us to decipher a hidden message. The card's intent was to capture the attention of potential consumers but also to reflect the cultural values and pastimes of the late 19th century, a period marked by increasing industrialization and the rise of mass media. Tobacco companies, like Duke, understood the power of advertising in shaping public perception and promoting their products. These cards offer valuable insights into the marketing strategies and cultural references prevalent at the time. By studying these artifacts, historians can uncover the ways in which consumer culture was constructed and how it influenced people’s daily lives. Delving into the archives of advertising history, market research, and social commentary allows us to better understand the intricate relationship between commerce and society.