Card Number 251, Miss Butler, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-2) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes 1880s

This is a trade card from the 1880s featuring Miss Butler, an actress, promoting Cross Cut Cigarettes. Part of a larger set called *Actors and Actresses*, this card is a photographic portrait of Miss Butler in a theatrical costume. These cards, issued by W. Duke, Sons & Co. are a prime example of the use of celebrity endorsements in advertising. The simple, sepia-toned photograph captures Miss Butler’s elegant stance and provides an intimate glimpse into the world of late 19th-century performance.