[Actress wearing dress with embellished neckline], from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-8) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Duke Cigarettes 1890 - 1895

This is a cabinet card from the "Actors and Actresses" series, printed between 1890 and 1895 by W. Duke, Sons & Co. to promote their Duke Cigarettes. The series features portraits of famous stage performers of the time, like this unidentified actress, in a simple yet elegant pose. The image, a photographic print, showcases the actress in a delicate, lace-trimmed dress, with her gaze directed at the viewer. The card is a fine example of late 19th-century promotional ephemera, illustrating the interconnectedness of entertainment, consumerism, and tobacco culture during that period.