Marie Prescott Dressed as Polish Queen of the 14th Century, from the set Actors and Actresses, Second Series (N71) for Duke brand cigarettes 1888 - 1890

This small card, made around 1900 by W. Duke, Sons & Co., features actress Marie Prescott dressed as a Polish queen. It was printed as part of a series of collectible cards included in packs of Duke cigarettes. What's interesting here is that the image is a chromolithograph, a color printing process that allowed for mass production. Think about the labor involved: from the photographers documenting actors on stage, to the skilled laborers creating the printing stones, and the factory workers packaging the cigarettes with these cards. The chromolithograph captures Prescott in costume with remarkable detail for its size. The vivid colors and the likeness of the actress herself were designed to appeal to consumers, enticing them to purchase Duke cigarettes and collect the entire set. These cards weren't just about selling cigarettes. They were also about creating desire, packaging aspiration and celebrity into a tiny, affordable format. They blur the lines between art, advertising, and everyday life, reminding us that even the most mass-produced objects can be culturally significant.