Card Number 329, Belle Urquehardt, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-3) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes 1880s

This is a trade card from the 1880s featuring Belle Urquehardt, an actress, and was produced by W. Duke, Sons & Co. to promote their Cross Cut Cigarettes. The black and white photograph shows Urquehardt holding a white dove in a theatrical pose. The card features text that identifies her, promotes the brand, and includes the company’s name. These types of trade cards were popular in the late 19th century and helped popularize both the product and the individuals depicted. The card, measuring 2 11/16 × 1 3/8 in. (6.8 × 3.5 cm) is now part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection in New York.