Mary Mills, from the Actresses series (N245) issued by Kinney Brothers to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes 1890

This is a black and white photographic portrait of Mary Mills, a popular actress, from the "Actresses" series of trading cards issued in 1890 by Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company to promote their Sweet Caporal cigarettes. The image depicts Mills in a three-quarter profile view, dressed in a simple white gown, with her hair styled in a fashionable updo. The card's small size, 2 1/2 x 1 7/16 inches, reflects its intended use as a collectible item for tobacco enthusiasts. Today, the card is preserved in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. The artwork provides a glimpse into the world of late 19th-century theater and the use of trading cards as a marketing tool in the tobacco industry.