Card 708, Miss Morgan, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 1) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

This is a photograph of Miss Morgan, made by Allen & Ginter for Virginia Brights Cigarettes in the late 19th century. These cards were inserted into cigarette packs, part of a marketing strategy that speaks volumes about the era’s social values. Actresses, like Miss Morgan, were becoming celebrities, their images circulating widely thanks to new printing technologies. This card demonstrates a crucial interplay between commerce, celebrity culture, and the burgeoning advertising industry. The fact that images of actresses were used to sell cigarettes highlights how the female image was being commodified and consumed. To fully understand this image, we need to delve into the social and economic conditions of the time. Exploring archives of advertising history, theater programs, and biographical information about actresses can reveal much more about the cultural role of images like this one. The meaning of this seemingly simple card is contingent on its historical context.