Annie Summerville, Corsair Co., from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 1) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

This is a sepia-toned lithograph of Annie Summerville of the Corsair Co., made by Allen & Ginter as part of a series of promotional trading cards for Virginia Brights Cigarettes. These cards were immensely popular at the turn of the century and offer an intriguing glimpse into the cultural values of the time. Summerville is dressed in a theatrical costume. It is a romanticized vision of a pirate, emphasizing a playful and adventurous spirit. The representation of women in these cards often oscillated between traditional ideals of domesticity and more assertive, independent personas, especially within the performing arts. Summerville’s defiant stance and somewhat androgynous costuming embody the complexities of gender expression. Her confident gaze seems to challenge viewers, and the image serves as both a commercial product and as an artifact of evolving societal attitudes toward women in the public sphere. It reflects the emotional and personal dimensions of performance, identity, and aspiration.