Maud Branscombe, from the Actresses and Celebrities series (N60, Type 1) promoting Little Beauties Cigarettes for Allen & Ginter brand tobacco products 1887

This small card, produced by Allen & Ginter, is part of a series of cigarette cards from the late 19th century featuring actresses, in this instance Maud Branscombe. These cards reflect a specific cultural moment, one where the burgeoning tobacco industry used images of idealized women to market their products. But let’s not overlook the implications of commodifying female beauty alongside a product that's now known to be harmful. Branscombe, an actress, becomes a symbol of aspiration, her image intertwined with the allure of smoking. This highlights the complex relationship between celebrity culture, consumerism, and the construction of femininity. It invites us to consider the ways in which women’s images are used to sell ideas, lifestyles, and even harmful products. The ‘Little Beauties’ of the title almost hints at the innocence lost in the pursuit of beauty and fame, shadowed by the knowledge of the detrimental health effects linked to cigarette smoking. What does it mean to look back at this image with our contemporary understanding of health and gender?