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

"Miss Clara Downes," from the "Actors and Actresses" series of trading cards, is a cabinet card photograph attributed to the firm Goodwin & Company. The image depicts the actress Clara Downes in a casual pose, seated outdoors, wearing a patterned dress and a hat. The card was produced as a promotional item for Old Judge Cigarettes and likely circulated as a collectible for fans of the theater. The card is a fine example of the type of ephemera that helped to popularize actors and actresses during the late 19th century.