Card Number 373, Julia Miner, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-3) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes 1880s

This small card was created by W. Duke, Sons & Co., sometime between 1870 and 1920, as a promotional item for Cross Cut Cigarettes. It is made of paper, with a photographic image of Julia Miner, an actress, printed on one side. The card is a product of its time, when industrial production and advertising were rapidly expanding. Photography had become more accessible, enabling mass reproduction of images. These cards were essentially miniature billboards, tucked into cigarette packs to entice consumers. Notice how the image of Julia Miner, a celebrity of her day, is directly linked to the product. It's a clever marketing tactic, associating glamour and fame with the act of smoking. Consider the labor involved: from the photographers and printers, to the factory workers who packaged the cigarettes with these cards. This seemingly simple object embodies complex relationships between production, consumption, and cultural values. It shows how the pursuit of profit shapes our visual world.