Card Number 253, May Bardell, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-2) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes 1880s

This trade card from the 1880s features a portrait of May Bardell, an actress, and was part of the “Actors and Actresses” series of cards issued by W. Duke, Sons & Co. to promote their Cross Cut Cigarettes. The card depicts Bardell sitting on a chair, dressed in a military-inspired costume, holding a cigarette holder in one hand and a cigarette in the other. This type of trade card, known as a "cigarette card," became popular in the late 19th century as a way to promote tobacco products. The card is a valuable artifact of the history of advertising and theater, providing a glimpse into the popular culture of the time.