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

This small card featuring Sadie Kirby of the Erminie Co. was produced by Allen & Ginter for Virginia Brights Cigarettes. These cards, popular in the late 19th century, offer a glimpse into the cultural values and commercial strategies of the time. Sadie Kirby, an actress, is presented in a performative pose, hands on her hips, in a costume that blends military and burlesque styles. This image circulated within a society grappling with evolving notions of gender and performance. These cards were collected and traded, creating networks of desire and aspiration centered on celebrity figures. While seemingly innocuous, these cards participated in the commodification of female identity and the intertwining of pleasure, performance, and consumption. They capture a moment in which the theater, advertising, and personal identity were becoming increasingly intertwined, prompting us to consider the complexities of representation and spectatorship.