Edith Kingdon, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 1) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

This is a trade card from the *Actors and Actresses* series, produced by Allen & Ginter for Virginia Brights Cigarettes. The card depicts actress Edith Kingdon, who was likely popular in the 1880s and 1890s. The card is a sepia-toned photograph featuring a close-up portrait of Kingdon. It was printed between 1885 and 1891, during the peak of popularity for the trade card series. The card is a prime example of the *cartes de visite* (CDV) format, a small-scale photographic print used to share portraits in the 19th century. The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City holds this example of the series.