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

This is a trade card from the *Actors and Actresses* series produced by Allen & Ginter, a company that specialized in tobacco cards. This particular card features actress Sadie Cortelyou and was created between 1885 and 1891 to promote Virginia Brights Cigarettes. The card is a small, black and white photograph, portraying Cortelyou in a theatrical pose, holding a folded parasol and wearing a fashionable hat. It is a prime example of the ephemera that circulated in the late 19th century as part of brand promotion. The card is currently housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.