Card Number 203, Leicester, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-1) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes 1880s

Card Number 203, Leicester, from the Actors and Actresses series, was produced by W. Duke, Sons & Co. around the turn of the century to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes. These cards offer a snapshot into the cultural landscape of the late 19th century in the United States, revealing the intertwined relationship between commerce, celebrity, and public image. Cigarette card sets like these were immensely popular, tapping into a growing consumer culture and the burgeoning entertainment industry. The images, like that of the actress Leicester, circulated widely and contributed to the construction of celebrity. They served as both collectible items and promotional tools within a rapidly expanding mass media environment. To truly understand the significance of this card, we might delve into archives of advertising history, theater ephemera, and biographical information about performers like Leicester. What we learn from this kind of research allows us to understand the social conditions that underpin the making of art.