Card Number 63, Miss Cottrelly, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-2) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes 1880s

Editor: Here we have “Card Number 63, Miss Cottrelly” from the Actors and Actresses series, created around the 1880s by W. Duke, Sons & Co. It's a print, a type of drawing actually, that feels so delicate. It gives off a vibe that's both elegant and a little... mysterious. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Well, beyond Miss Cottrelly's rather fabulous hat, I see a whisper of a different era, a time when advertising flirted with art. It's intriguing to think about how images of actresses were used to sell cigarettes. Each card was like a little jewel, slipped into a pack. Look at the detail in the faux proscenium surrounding the image. Do you think that helps to elevate the subject? Editor: I guess so! It makes her seem like a star. Did people collect these, almost like baseball cards? Curator: Precisely! It's a window into popular culture of the time, reflecting who was celebrated, who was considered beautiful and desirable. Plus, the print itself is a fascinating object – mass-produced, yet trying to capture the allure of individuality and fame. It asks us what, really, were they selling? The cigarettes, or the dream? Editor: So, it’s more than just a pretty face advertising smokes? Curator: Absolutely! It's a social document, a glimpse into marketing tactics, and a piece of ephemeral art that survived. That’s a lot for one little card to carry, wouldn't you say? Editor: Definitely makes you think about what we'll be sticking on our cigarette packs in a hundred years. Curator: Or maybe no cigarettes, so we can use those thoughts on another great piece of art.