Vesta Victoria, from the Actresses series (N245) issued by Kinney Brothers to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes 1890

This 1890 photographic print features the actress Vesta Victoria, part of the "Actresses" series of trading cards issued by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company to promote Sweet Caporal cigarettes. The image, a portrait of Victoria in a striped dress and her signature messy hair, showcases the widespread popularity of trading cards during the late 19th century, as they were often used as a form of advertising and entertainment. The Kinney Brothers, a major tobacco company, employed these collectible cards to attract new customers, creating a market for the company's products and boosting the careers of famous actresses like Vesta Victoria. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, where this card is housed, holds a significant collection of these early promotional cards.