Indiana, from the Industries of States series (N117) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Honest Long Cut Tobacco 1889

This card, made by W. Duke, Sons & Co. around 1888, to promote Honest Long Cut Tobacco, presents us with an allegorical figure of Indiana. She leans on a shield displaying an agrarian scene, crowned with a wreath and a sword, symbols deeply rooted in classical antiquity. The serene maiden, bare-shouldered and draped in classical garb, evokes the ancient Roman ideal of ‘Virtus’, or virtue, often depicted as a goddess associated with bravery and moral excellence. Her pose, with hands gently touching, suggests contemplation. This motif of the thoughtful maiden can be traced through countless iterations, from ancient sculptures of muses to Renaissance portrayals of contemplative figures. The sword and wreath adorning the shield—emblems of military might and honor—contrast starkly with the pastoral scene beneath. This juxtaposition speaks to the complex narrative of American expansion, where the ideals of progress and prosperity were often achieved through conquest and conflict. The collective memory of the "Wild West" lives on. This image is a fascinating reminder of how symbols, charged with cultural and emotional weight, can be adapted and re-imagined to serve new purposes.