Card Number 541, Miss Harding, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-7) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Duke Cigarettes 1880s

This is a trade card from the "Actors and Actresses" series issued by W. Duke, Sons & Co. to promote their Duke Cigarettes. The card features a black and white photograph of Miss Harding, an actress of the era. The image, likely a studio portrait, shows her posed in a formal gown, with her hands clasped together. The card is a prime example of advertising in the late 19th century, using popular culture figures to appeal to consumers. This card, now housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, provides a glimpse into the world of both stage acting and cigarette advertising of the late 1800s.