Card Number 701, Miss Ada Webb, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-3) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes 1880s

This card, made by W. Duke, Sons & Co., features Miss Ada Webb as part of an advertising series for Cross Cut Cigarettes. Note how she is positioned on a set of stairs, holding a basket, looking coyly at the viewer. The stairs she ascends are no simple backdrop. The motif of stairs carries a history laden with symbolism, echoing through ancient mystery rites. The climb suggests a transition, a journey from the earthly to the divine. As seen in countless artworks across time and culture, from ancient Egyptian depictions of pharaohs ascending to meet the gods to Renaissance allegories of virtue. This ascent can be interpreted as a potent symbol of aspiration and transformation, a call to elevate oneself. Observe the recurring motifs, these patterns are not linear progressions, but cyclical returns. Symbols resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings, reminding us of the timeless dance between past and present.