From the series "Sports Girls" (C190), issued by the American Cigarette Company, Ltd., Montreal, to promote Gloria Cigarettes 1885 - 1895

This colorful, illustrated card from the “Sports Girls” series is a prime example of the use of trade cards as a marketing tool in the late 19th century. Created by the American Cigarette Company, Ltd., to promote their Gloria Cigarettes, the card depicts a woman dressed in a sporty, almost theatrical costume. This card, and the series it’s part of, demonstrate the use of evocative imagery to connect a product with desirable qualities. The card is currently housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.