Card Number 243, Mary Mills, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-7) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Duke Cigarettes 1880s

This is a trade card from the 1880s, featuring a portrait of actress Mary Mills. Part of the "Actors and Actresses" series produced by W. Duke, Sons & Co. to promote their Duke Cigarettes, this card exemplifies the use of celebrity endorsements in advertising. The image presents Mills in a contemplative pose, her face partially obscured by a decorative headband. The card's simple design and sepia tone reflect the aesthetic of the period. This piece is a valuable artifact of the late 19th-century American entertainment industry and advertising history.