Card 841, Alice Atherton, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 7) for Dixie Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

This carte de visite, part of the "Actors and Actresses" series produced by Allen & Ginter for Dixie Cigarettes, features a portrait of Alice Atherton, a popular stage actress of the late 19th century. The image, likely taken during a performance, captures Atherton in a theatrical costume, showcasing the fashion trends of the era. The card, a small-format photograph printed on thin cardboard, was a common form of collecting and sharing images in the late 19th century. This particular card, now housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, serves as a fascinating glimpse into the world of 19th-century theatre and the history of cigarette-card advertising.