Castella, from the Actors and Actresses series (N171) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1886 - 1890

This card from the Old Judge Cigarettes series was printed by Goodwin & Company in New York, sometime between 1850 and 1950. It’s a humble object – a piece of paper, treated with photographic emulsion, printed in ink, and then distributed as a collectible item. The image features an actress named Castella, posed in costume. Consider that this image would have been only one of many produced, likely through an assembly line process of image capture, printing, and distribution. The actress herself was part of a larger entertainment industry, also driven by mass production. The card is a direct product of its historical moment. It blurs the lines between art, advertising, and celebrity culture, reflecting the rise of consumerism and the increasing visibility of performers in the late 19th century. It also represents the labor involved in both the entertainment and tobacco industries. The card serves as a reminder that even seemingly simple objects can carry significant cultural and economic weight.