When the Swallows Homeward Fly / A Tough Chick, from the Jokes series (N118) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Honest Long Cut Tobacco 1890 - 1893

This colorful card was produced by W. Duke, Sons & Co. around 1888 as part of their "Jokes" series of tobacco inserts. These cards, like many of the time, reveal a rigid social hierarchy and anxieties about class. In the top left, a well-dressed man eats what looks like rocks instead of swallows, the animal depicted at the top right. Below, a cracked egg suggests the birth of a "tough chick," an anthropomorphized bird that is smartly dressed, smoking, and holding a walking stick. The card plays on contrasts between nature and culture, high and low. But it is important to remember that this was an advertisement, a way to market tobacco to a wide audience. We can look at the company's history, its marketing strategies, and the broader cultural landscape of the late 19th century to better understand the image's social context. Understanding the commercial imperatives is key to unlocking its meaning and social function.