May Perkins, from the Actresses series (N203) issued by Wm. S. Kimball & Co. 1889

"May Perkins, from the Actresses series" (N203), is a carte-de-visite from the series of the same name published by Wm. S. Kimball & Co. in 1889. The series featured images of famous actresses of the time, often printed on the back of cigarette cards. The photograph, now housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, is a faded and damaged image, but it captures a glimpse of a popular 19th-century actress. This type of card, printed on thin paper, was a popular format for collecting and exchanging portraits in the 19th century. The image's condition adds to its historical interest, offering a window into the ephemeral nature of these early photographic materials.