[Actress wearing dark gown with lace neckline], from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-8) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Duke Cigarettes 1890 - 1895

This 19th-century trade card, part of the "Actors and Actresses" series, depicts an unidentified actress. The card, printed by W. Duke, Sons & Co. to promote Duke Cigarettes, is a simple black and white portrait of the actress wearing a dark gown with a lace neckline. The card is part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection and measures just over 2 inches in height. These trade cards were a popular form of advertising in the late 19th century, and often featured images of famous people or scenes from popular culture.