Card Number 257, Miss Bell, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-2) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes 1880s

This is "Card Number 257, Miss Bell," a promotional item produced by W. Duke, Sons & Co. for Cross Cut Cigarettes. These cards, made with mass-produced paper and printing techniques, are fascinating artifacts of early advertising. The sepia tone, the thinness of the paper, and the small size all speak to the economies of scale at play. The image of Miss Bell, an actress, was designed to be alluring and eye-catching. Consider the amount of labor that went into printing thousands upon thousands of these cards, slipped into cigarette packs to encourage repeat purchases. The relatively low cost of production meant that these cards could be widely distributed, embedding the image of Miss Bell into the public consciousness. The card's value lies not just in its aesthetic appeal, but also in its role within a complex system of production, consumption, and cultural messaging. It reminds us that even the smallest objects can tell big stories about commerce, labor, and the making of desire.