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

This is a trading card depicting actress Maud Macdonald, part of the “Actresses” series created by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company in 1890 to promote their Sweet Caporal cigarettes. The card features a monochrome photograph of Macdonald, dressed in a fashionable gown with a striped bodice and a voluminous skirt, standing in a studio setting. The card's small size and format are typical of trading cards from this era, and the image's simple composition reflects the straightforward style of early photographic portraiture. The card is a valuable piece of ephemera that sheds light on the popular culture of the late 19th century and the role of tobacco advertising in promoting entertainment.