Card Number 221, Mlle. Garland, 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. between 1870 and 1920, is one of a series of cigarette cards featuring actors and actresses. Printed on thin card stock, these images were designed as promotional items for Cross Cut Cigarettes. The photographic image of Mlle. Garland is in sepia tones; this gives it a vintage feel and a sense of authenticity. What’s interesting is to consider the modes of production. These cards weren’t made to be high art but mass-produced collectibles. This speaks to the rise of consumer culture. Each card represents a small part of a larger manufacturing and marketing machine. The choice of material – cheap card stock – and the printing process reflect the intention to create an affordable, disposable product. Yet, these cards have endured, becoming historical artifacts that offer insights into the social and cultural values of the time. They remind us that even the humblest of materials can carry significant cultural weight, blurring the lines between commercial ephemera and objects of historical interest.