Heralds Trumpet, from the Musical Instruments series (N82) for Duke brand cigarettes 1888

This is "Heralds Trumpet" from the Musical Instruments series of trade cards produced by W. Duke, Sons & Co. The image presents a figure adorned in a costume of patterned heraldry, split vertically into two distinct fields. One side features a field of blue with white fleur-de-lis motifs, while the other displays red lions passant on a white ground, all meticulously rendered to capture the eye within this small format. Note how the artist uses the heraldic symbols and contrasting colours not merely as decoration but as a structured system. This is a semiotic language. The patterns evoke tradition and status. The herald's role as a communicator is highlighted by the trumpet and banner that accompany the figure, turning the image into a complex sign. Consider how such a commercial image taps into cultural codes of heraldry and musical tradition, transforming them into a message of brand recognition and aspiration. The image's structural arrangement encourages us to decode its multiple layers of meaning.