Card Number 208, Pauline Hall, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-2) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes 1880s

This is a trade card from the 1880s featuring Pauline Hall, an actress of the time. The card was issued by W. Duke, Sons & Co. to promote their Cross Cut cigarettes. The trade card shows a portrait of Hall standing against a backdrop, wearing a white costume and boots. The image is characteristic of the *carte de visite* format, a popular method for distributing photographs during the 19th century. The trade card is part of the "Actors and Actresses" series (N145-2), a set of cards that featured portraits of popular performers of the era. These cards are a valuable resource for understanding the cultural significance of the theater and the growing popularity of tobacco products in the late 19th century.