Card 439, Maud Branscombe, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 1) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

This is a portrait of Maud Branscombe, a well-known actress in the late 19th century, from the "Actors and Actresses" series of trading cards produced by Allen & Ginter for Virginia Brights cigarettes. The card, printed in the late 1880s, depicts Branscombe in a close-up shot, showcasing her delicate features and the lacy details of her dress. These trade cards, popular collectibles of the time, served as a form of advertisement, featuring images of celebrities alongside the Virginia Brights brand name. The card is now part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection in New York City, a testament to the cultural significance of these early forms of commercial imagery.