Minnie Palmer, from the Actresses and Celebrities series (N60, Type 2) promoting Little Beauties Cigarettes for Allen & Ginter brand tobacco products 1887

This 1887 photograph by Allen & Ginter features Minnie Palmer, an American actress, holding a violin. The photograph is part of the "Actresses and Celebrities" series promoting "Little Beauties" cigarettes for Allen & Ginter's tobacco products. The photograph is a carte-de-visite, a popular format for photographic portraits in the 19th century. This image showcases the popularity of collectible cards and the advertising strategies employed in the late 19th century, where tobacco companies used celebrity endorsements to promote their products.