Carrie Behr, Corsair Co., from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 6) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

This is a trade card of Carrie Behr of the Corsair Co., from the Actors and Actresses series for Virginia Brights Cigarettes. These cards, popular in the late 19th century, were a marketing strategy used to promote tobacco products. The images chosen were not arbitrary, they tell us much about the values of the time. Featuring actresses was a way to associate the product with glamour, beauty and the burgeoning entertainment industry. In terms of social history, the popular actress symbolized a progressive shift in women's roles, though within limits as celebrity remained tightly bound to consumption. To understand this image fully, we might look at the history of advertising, the rise of celebrity culture, and the changing roles of women in the late 19th century United States. The card is a reminder that art and commerce are often intertwined, and that even seemingly innocuous images can reflect broader social and cultural trends.