From the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 5) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

This is a small-format carte-de-visite of an unidentified actor, likely a stage performer. The image was produced by Allen & Ginter, a company known for creating collectible trading cards, and was part of a series of cards promoting Virginia Brights cigarettes, popular during the late 19th century. The image shows a posed portrait of the actor in costume. The soft focus and sepia tone of the image are characteristic of the photographic style of the period. The small size of the card is typical of the carte-de-visite format, which became popular in the 19th century as a way for people to share portraits. This type of collectible card is now a popular artifact for collectors of ephemera and historical photography.