Lottie Collins, Ta-Ra-Ra-Boom-De-Ay, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-8) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Duke Cigarettes 1890 - 1895

This is a carte-de-visite photograph of Lottie Collins, a popular British music hall performer known for her song "Ta-Ra-Ra-Boom-De-Ay". The photograph was likely produced as part of a series of trading cards, issued by W. Duke Sons & Co. to promote their Duke brand cigarettes. These trading cards featuring popular personalities were a common promotional strategy in the late 19th century, and contributed to the development of early popular culture. The photograph, now held in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, captures Collins in a theatrical pose, with her skirt and dress flowing out around her. This image offers a glimpse into the world of Victorian entertainment and the use of ephemera in early marketing strategies.