Mortimer, from the Actors and Actresses series (N171) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1886 - 1890

This small card, made by Goodwin & Company in the late 19th century, is from a series of actresses, printed to be included in Old Judge Cigarettes packs. These cards were made using a photomechanical printing process, a cost-effective method of reproducing images, which made them ideal for mass-produced promotional items like cigarette cards. The sepia tone gives it an antique feel, yet its creation was utterly modern. The card stock itself is thin, a testament to the economies of scale at play. The image, "Mortimer", shows an actress, posed in what was then a risqué manner. These cards were designed to be collected, traded, and, of course, to encourage brand loyalty. The fact that these cards exist in such numbers today speaks to the scale of tobacco consumption at the time, and to the clever marketing strategies used to cultivate that demand.