Bertie Pruyne, from the Actresses series (N245) issued by Kinney Brothers to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes 1890

This is a cabinet card photograph of actress Bertie Pruyne, part of the "Actresses" series created by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company in 1890 to promote Sweet Caporal cigarettes. The image shows Pruyne posed seated on a chair, the details of her costume and the ornate chair are clear. The sepia tones and the simple, elegant pose are characteristic of the cabinet card format, which was popular in the late 19th century. The card is now part of the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. These cards were given away with packs of cigarettes, and are a valuable glimpse into the history of the late 19th century tobacco industry.