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

"Fanny Ward," part of the "Actors and Actresses" series of cigarette cards, is a sepia-toned photograph featuring a portrait of the famous actress Fanny Ward. The card, produced by W. Duke, Sons & Co. to promote Duke Cigarettes, shows Fanny Ward in a theatrical pose, likely from a play or stage production. This card exemplifies a popular trend in the late 19th century of using celebrity images for advertising and product promotion. The Metropolitan Museum of Art houses this small, yet historically significant, piece of American advertising history.