October Fall Classic
Lot 1139:
Description
This is an iconic, albeit highly controversial, piece of early American tobacco advertising art, specifically a reproduction of the “Genuine Bull Durham Smoking Tobacco” poster titled “Without a Match,” originally produced by Blackwell’s Durham Tobacco Co. of Durham, North Carolina. This lithograph features the bold “BULL DURHAM” logo and the claim “STANDARD OF THE WORLD FOR THREE GENERATIONS.” The central, unfortunate feature of the piece is the use of two black men, depicted in the racist minstrel style common to the late 19th and early 20th century, hunting with guns and enjoying their tobacco pipes, alongside a dog and a bull in the background. The advertising campaign was famously successful, but the imagery is a stark reminder of historical race stereotypes in commercial art. The piece is a modern reproduction print and is currently presented in a contemporary black wood-style frame with a tan paper mat. The print itself appears to be in excellent condition with vibrant colors and no visible fading or major paper flaws. The mat and frame are in very good condition with minimal signs of handling or surface wear.
H 29″, W 23″, D 1″
H 25″ W 17.5″ (Print visible)
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