Card Number 261, Hattie Starr, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-7) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Duke Cigarettes 1880s

This trade card, part of the "Actors and Actresses" series, features Hattie Starr, a prominent actress of the late 19th century. Created by W. Duke, Sons & Co. to promote their Duke Cigarettes, the card depicts Starr in a theatrical pose, holding a cane and wearing a stylish hat and suit. The card showcases the use of photography in advertising, capitalizing on the popularity of theater and celebrity culture in the 1880s. This card, now in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, is a fascinating glimpse into the history of advertising and the cultural landscape of the late 19th century.