Clara Coleman, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-8) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Duke Cigarettes 1890 - 1895

This is a promotional card from the "Actors and Actresses" series issued by W. Duke, Sons & Co. to advertise Duke Cigarettes. The card depicts Clara Coleman, a popular stage actress of the time, seated in a relaxed pose, wearing a wide-brimmed hat and a simple patterned dress. This card, printed between 1890 and 1895, exemplifies the use of celebrity endorsements for marketing purposes, a tactic that continues to be employed today. The card is part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection in New York City, and it is a unique example of late 19th-century printmaking and advertising.