Governor Larrabee, Iowa, from "Governors, Arms, Etc." series (N133-1), issued by Duke Sons & Co. 1885 - 1892

Curator: Isn’t it funny how our ancestors used to get their news and social cues? This card, dating from somewhere between 1885 and 1892, featuring Iowa's Governor Larrabee, came from a series called "Governors, Arms, Etc.," issued by W. Duke, Sons & Co. It's currently part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection. Editor: My goodness, that’s quite the little vignette! It’s so quaint and...orderly? Everything's neatly in its place, like a visual encyclopedia entry on 'Iowa, circa late 19th Century'. Curator: Exactly! And made to be distributed with tobacco products! This tiny colourful drawing, most likely rendered in coloured pencil and watercolor, is practically bursting with state pride, wouldn’t you say? There’s the state coat of arms, imagery of farming, and a Commodore’s Pennant, possibly hinting at trade via the Mississippi River. The Duke company used such cards as collectables as well as marketing! Editor: It really crams a lot in, doesn’t it? I find the portrait of Governor Larrabee especially striking. It's oddly formal and severe juxtaposed against these almost cartoonish renderings of rural life. Almost as if it wants to present the entire state as a perfectly curated exhibit in itself. Curator: Well, consider the context: tobacco cards were popular then as a way to collect images of sports figures, actresses, even prominent political figures. Think of it as a snapshot, meant to evoke feelings about place, governance, and history, neatly packaged along with your 'Honest Long Cut' tobacco. They were meant to be appealing—visually stimulating, if you will. And collectible—people kept and traded these! Editor: So true! There's a real art to distilling identity and political messaging into these little portable squares. Now, seeing how the image and product were linked, you start realizing what this card actually communicates. Curator: Indeed. It is not simply the sum of its parts but more of a marketing campaign printed on thick card stock. Food for thought, that. Editor: Yes, quite the curated puff piece!