Card 903, Mrs. J.B. Potter, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 2) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

This card of Mrs. J.B. Potter was created as part of a series of cigarette cards, printed by Allen & Ginter. These cards were made using a photomechanical process, a clever strategy employed by manufacturers to boost sales through collectibility. Consider the context: These cards were essentially advertisements, mass-produced and inserted into cigarette packs. The material, thin cardstock, speaks to the disposability inherent in consumer culture, yet the image – a portrait of a prominent actress – suggests a higher cultural value. The printing process itself is crucial here. Photomechanical reproduction allowed for the widespread dissemination of images, making celebrity culture accessible to the masses. These cards blur the lines between art, advertising, and ephemera. They are a reminder that the materials and methods of production are never neutral; they shape how we see and value the world around us. It is a lens through which we can interpret a much broader cultural landscape.