Josie Dirkee, Erminie Co., from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 6) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

This is a collectible trade card, a type of advertisement, featuring the actress Josie Dirkee of the Erminie Company. The card was produced by Allen & Ginter as part of their "Actors and Actresses" series for Virginia Brights Cigarettes between 1885 and 1891. The monochrome photograph, typical of the era, depicts Dirkee in a stage costume with a stylized pose, highlighting the popularity of theatre and the practice of using collectible cards to promote brands. The image is now part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection in New York City.