Tennye Poole, from the Actresses series (N245) issued by Kinney Brothers to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes 1890

This is a cigarette card depicting actress Tennye Poole, part of the “Actresses” series produced by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company in 1890. The card is a simple portrait of Poole in a white dress with lace detail and a large hat, creating a sense of elegance. The photo was issued to promote “Sweet Caporal” cigarettes, a popular brand in the late 19th century. The image is a good example of the tobacco card genre, which was a popular method of advertising and collecting in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The card is currently housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.