Card Number 116, Miss Theo, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-2) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes 1880s

Editor: This is "Card Number 116, Miss Theo," a promotional print from the 1880s by W. Duke, Sons & Co., part of their Actors and Actresses series. It feels very sepia-toned and staged, and there's something poignant about seeing a fleeting moment captured for a cigarette ad. What do you see in it? Curator: Fleeting is the word, isn’t it? This little card, smaller than my phone, once represented a huge cultural shift. Tobacco companies using the burgeoning world of celebrity to sell… well, addictive smoke! Look at Miss Theo; she’s holding a fur muff like it’s a tiny, nervous animal. Makes you wonder about her story, doesn't it? Did she enjoy being a "brand ambassador" for Cross Cut Cigarettes, or was it just another gig? What's your take on how these ephemeral cards became valuable collectables, beyond just being disposable ads? Editor: That’s a good question! I guess it shows how everyday objects can become historical artifacts over time. Something created for such a fleeting purpose has now outlived its intended use. But it makes me think, what does it say about *us* that we collect them? Curator: Ah, the big questions! Perhaps it is us grasping at ephemerality, or immortalizing a celebrity long past, like pressing a flower in a book. What initially promoted consumption is now feeding nostalgia, don't you think? I suppose this is the perfect image for our screen-obsessed age. Editor: That's a lovely, evocative way to put it! Thanks, I’ll definitely look at similar pieces differently from now on. Curator: My pleasure. Isn't it amazing how a tiny card can spark so much reflection?