Unearthing the 1888 Duke’s N79 “History of Poor Boys” Set

Origins & Context

In 1888, W. Duke, Sons & Company (a major tobacco firm of the era) produced a set of mini-booklets (not just cards) to promote their cigarettes. This set is known in collector circles by its American Card Catalog (ACC) designation, N79, and is titled Histories of Poor Boys and Other Famous People. Pre-War Cards+2The Metropolitan Museum of Art+2

Unlike typical modern trading cards, these were 16-page booklets — more like tiny pamphlets — featuring a short biography of the person on the cover, along with full-color lithograph artwork.

The Theme: Rags to Riches

What makes this set especially compelling is its theme: the transformation of poverty into greatness. Each booklet tells the “poor boy” origin story of a person who, despite humble beginnings, went on to achieve fame, influence, or wealth. Pre-War Cards

This reflects a deeply appealing moral narrative from the 19th century: hard work, perseverance, and self-improvement. Through the lens of these figures, Duke’s was not just selling cigarettes — they were aligning their brand with the aspirational stories of “making it.”

Notable Figures Featured

Among the 50 total booklets in the set, there’s a remarkable mix of personalities from various spheres: politics, business, arts, exploration, and sport. Pre-War Cards+2Collectrea+2

Some standout examples:

• Edgar Allan Poe — The Metropolitan Museum of Art holds the History of Edgar Allan Poe booklet from this set. The Metropolitan Museum of Art
  
  

• Joseph Jefferson — Also represented; his life is chronicled in one booklet. The Metropolitan Museum of Art
  
  

• Andrew Carnegie — Among the titans of industry, Carnegie’s “poor boy” roots made him a natural fit.
  
  

• Buffalo Bill (William F. Cody) — From frontier life to legendary showman, his story is part of the collection.
  
  

• John L. Sullivan and Jake Kilrain — Famous boxers.
  
  

Artistic & Physical Characteristics

• Size: Each booklet measures about 2.75″ × 1.5″ when closed. The Metropolitan Museum of Art
  
  

• Printing: Produced via commercial color lithography by Knapp & Company. The Metropolitan Museum of Art
  
  

• Back Design: The back cover typically features a vibrant scene tied to the subject’s life — e.g., for a writer, a scene of books or quills; for an industrialist, factories or railroads. Collectrea+1
  
  

• Interior: Text spans 16 pages — relatively short, but substantial enough to give a snapshot of each person’s life journey. Pre-War Cards+1
  
  

Rarity, Collectibility & Market Value

• The N79 set is very rare, especially in full or near-full condition.
  
  

• Individual booklets do appear on the vintage card market; depending on condition, values vary.
  
  

• Because these are not typical “sports cards” but rather historical/biographical booklets, they attract a broad range of collectors: tobacco-card enthusiasts, miniature-book collectors, and 19th-century ephemera aficionados. Collectrea
  
  

Historical Significance & Legacy

1. Marketing Innovation: These booklets show how tobacco companies used educational or aspirational content to market their products. Rather than simply slapping images on cards, they offered stories — a clever way to engage consumers.
   
   

2. Cultural Snapshot: The set captures figures from the 19th century who were viewed as embodying the “American dream” (or at least the Victorian equivalent). It’s a window into what success meant at that time.
   
   

3. Art & Printing: The lithography and design reflect high craftsmanship. These were not throwaway inserts — they were carefully made.
   
   

4. Preservation: Institutions like The Met preserve some of these booklets, recognizing them as more than mere advertising — they are artifacts of visual culture. The Metropolitan Museum of Art+1
   
   

Why This Set Still Matters Today

• Collecting Challenge: For modern collectors, chasing down all 50 booklets is both difficult and rewarding. Because of their age, even finding them in good condition is a challenge.
  
  

• Educational Appeal: These booklets can be used in history or literature studies: each one is a mini-biography, which makes them a quirky but powerful teaching tool.
  
  

• Art Appreciation: The lithographs are appealing in their own right — vibrant, detailed, and evocative of the era.
  
  

• Memorabilia Context: In the broader context of trading cards (or tobacco ephemera), the N79 set represents a bridge between advertisement and collectible.
  
  

Potential Challenges & Drawbacks

• Fragility: Given their small size and age, many of the surviving booklets are in fragile condition; corners and pages may be worn.
  
  

• Incomplete Sets: Very few fully complete sets are known, which makes completion difficult and expensive.
  
  

• Narrow Audience: While interesting, the “poor boy to famous man” angle may not appeal to all collectors, especially those focused solely on sports or vintage cards.
  
  

Conclusion

The 1888 Duke’s N79 “Histories of Poor Boys” booklets are a rare, historically rich, and visually enchanting set. More than a marketing gimmick, they are 16-page mini-biographies that celebrate perseverance and success, told through vibrant lithography and compact format. For collectors, historians, and lovers of ephemera, this set is a prized piece of the late 19th century — offering both aesthetic pleasure and a fascinating lens into the values and branding of its time.

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