Card Number 367, Lizzie Webster, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-5) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cameo Cigarettes 1880s

This small card, made by W. Duke Sons & Co., was printed to promote Cameo Cigarettes. It is one of a series featuring actors and actresses. While it may seem like a humble commercial product, this card exemplifies the cutting edge of late 19th century image production. Lithography, the printing process used to create the card, allowed for mass production and dissemination of images in ways never before possible. Consider the labor involved: from the photographers and printers, to the tobacco workers who filled the cigarette packs that contained the cards. The image of Lizzie Webster, an actress, adds another layer, as her likeness becomes a commodity, intertwined with the marketing of tobacco. This card is more than just a pretty picture. It's a window into the complex relationship between art, labor, and consumption in an age of rapid industrialization. By examining its materials and context, we can understand how even the smallest objects can reflect larger social and economic forces.