Clara Easterbrook, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 1) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

This is a trade card, also known as a cigarette card, from the "Actors and Actresses" series produced by Allen & Ginter, a prominent tobacco company, between 1885 and 1891. The card depicts Clara Easterbrook, a popular stage actress of the late 19th century, in a formal portrait. It is a black and white photograph, capturing Easterbrook in a white dress with a frilled collar and a white bonnet. The image is framed by the trade card's border, which includes the company's name and the brand "Virginia Brights Cigarettes." These cards, collectible for their images of famous personalities, were distributed with cigarette packs as a marketing tool, showcasing the growing popularity of tobacco products during this period. The card is now part of the collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.