Edwin Booth, from the Actresses and Celebrities series (N60, Type 1) promoting Little Beauties Cigarettes for Allen & Ginter brand tobacco products 1887

This 1887 trade card, printed by Allen & Ginter, features a black and white photograph of Edwin Booth, a renowned American actor of the 19th century. The card is part of the “Actresses and Celebrities” series promoting “Little Beauties Cigarettes,” a brand of tobacco products. The image shows Booth in a thoughtful pose, his hand resting on his chin, his eyes looking off into the distance. The card is a prime example of the use of celebrity endorsements in advertising during the late 19th century and is now part of the collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.