Card 1040, "See my Kittie!", from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 2) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

This is a trade card from the "Actors and Actresses" series produced by Allen & Ginter for Virginia Brights Cigarettes. The card, featuring an unidentified woman holding a cat, is a prime example of late 19th-century advertising that used celebrity images to promote consumer goods. The card is a monochrome photograph with a simple composition and an intimate tone that makes the viewer feel like they are having a personal moment with the subject. The card’s design, which combines product placement with a lighthearted image, is typical of trade cards produced in the late 19th century and reflects the evolving relationship between advertising and popular culture.