Miss Benney, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-8) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Duke Cigarettes 1890 - 1895

This is a trade card from the "Actors and Actresses" series produced by W. Duke, Sons & Co. to promote Duke Cigarettes. The card features a portrait of Miss Benney, a stage actress, holding a fan. It is a black-and-white photograph printed on a card stock with a decorative border. This series of cards is a prime example of late 19th-century advertising and collectible ephemera, showcasing the growing popularity of both tobacco and theater in the United States. This trade card is part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection and measures 2 11/16 × 1 3/8 in.