Card Number 712, Carmen, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-3) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes 1880s

This is a trade card featuring the actress Carmen from the "Actors and Actresses" series, printed in the 1880s by W. Duke, Sons & Co. to advertise their Cross Cut Cigarettes. The card depicts Carmen in a ballerina pose, wearing a tutu and holding a feather fan. The image is a black and white photograph, typical of the time, and is printed on a small card with the company's logo and advertisement at the bottom. This card exemplifies the use of trade cards as a form of advertising in the 19th century. These cards were often collected by consumers and featured images of popular figures, making them valuable collectibles.