Theresa Vaughn as "The Honey Bee," from the series Fancy Dress Ball Costumes (N73) for Duke brand cigarettes 1889

This small chromolithograph was produced by W. Duke, Sons & Co. in the United States as a cigarette card; it was made to be collected and traded. The image depicts Theresa Vaughn as "The Honey Bee," likely an actress dressed for a fancy dress ball. Cigarette cards like this one offer a glimpse into the social and economic structures of the late 19th century. Tobacco companies used these cards as a marketing strategy to attract consumers, subtly associating their products with popular culture and entertainment. The image of Vaughn in costume suggests the cultural fascination with celebrity and spectacle, reflective of America's increasing consumer culture. The cultural associations around gender roles, specifically the ways in which women were represented in popular culture, is relevant here. Further research into advertising history, popular theatrical entertainments, and the biographies of actresses, could give us a better idea of this complex cultural moment.