Card Number 194, Grace Wilson, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-2) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes 1880s

This is a promotional card for Cross Cut Cigarettes, featuring actress Grace Wilson, printed by W. Duke Sons & Co. sometime between 1870 and 1920. These cards, along with others featuring baseball players and picturesque scenes, were designed to stiffen cigarette packs and entice customers. They reflect the rising popularity of mass media and consumer culture in the late 19th century. The idealized image of Grace Wilson, a performer, suggests a connection between smoking and the glamorous world of the theater. This was a time when advertising was still a relatively new field and the commercialization of celebrity was just beginning. To better understand this image, we can look into the history of tobacco advertising, the rise of celebrity culture, and the social role of women in the late 19th century. These resources can help us understand how commercial imagery shapes and reflects social values.