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 trade card, part of a series of cards featuring actors and actresses, printed by W. Duke, Sons & Co., to promote their Cross Cut Cigarettes. The card features a photograph of Grace Wilson, a popular actress of the time, posing in a stage costume. The card is a fine example of the use of celebrity endorsements in advertising during the late 19th century. Trade cards like these were often collected and exchanged by consumers, and provide a glimpse into the world of popular culture during the era. The card, measuring only 2 5/8 × 1 7/16 inches, is now part of the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.