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

This carte-de-visite, a popular photographic format in the 19th century, features Margaret Mather, a renowned American stage actress. Part of the *Actors and Actresses* series produced by Allen & Ginter for Virginia Brights Cigarettes, this collectible card showcases Mather in a theatrical pose, holding a book and standing near an ornate pillar. The image exemplifies the trend of using celebrity endorsements in advertising during the late 19th century. The Metropolitan Museum of Art houses this small but significant piece of American history and theatrical ephemera.