Zelia De Lussau, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-7) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Duke Cigarettes 1880s

This is a trade card from the 1880s featuring Zelia De Lussau, an actress of the time. It was issued by W. Duke, Sons & Co., the tobacco company known for producing Duke Cigarettes. The card is a monochrome photograph of De Lussau in a theatrical costume, with the company logo and slogan printed at the bottom. These cards were often used as promotional materials for the company, capitalizing on the popularity of theatre and actors during this period. The card is a prime example of trade card art, a genre that combined advertising with artistic representation.