From the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 4) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

This is a trading card from the "Actors and Actresses" series (N45, Type 4) produced by Allen & Ginter for Virginia Brights Cigarettes between 1885 and 1891. The card features a sepia-toned photograph of a woman, likely an actress, wearing a large hat and a white scarf. The image is typical of the portrait style popular during the late 19th century, and the card’s small size suggests its intended use as a collectible item for cigarette smokers. The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York houses this piece of ephemera, which is a fascinating example of how advertising and popular culture intersected during the Victorian era.