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

"Alex Martins, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 1) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes" is a carte-de-visite, a type of photograph popular in the 19th century. This particular card, created by Allen & Ginter between 1885 and 1891, features a portrait of Alex Martins, likely an actor or actress of the time. The card's simple composition and sepia tone, along with the inscription, are typical of trade cards, which were often given away as promotional items by businesses. The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York houses this small but significant piece of 19th-century American cultural history.