Miss Marie Studholme, from the Actresses series (N245) issued by Kinney Brothers to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes 1890

This tiny card featuring Miss Marie Studholme was produced by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company, sometime around the turn of the 20th century. Part of a series promoting Sweet Caporal Cigarettes, it reflects the burgeoning culture of celebrity endorsements. In the late 1800s, the rise of mass media and consumer culture created new opportunities for companies to market their products, and actors like Studholme were among the first celebrities. But it's worth asking whether these figures had any real agency. To what extent was her image controlled by the company? How did this affect her career? To understand this card better, we can look at the Kinney Brothers' advertising strategies. We could also examine Studholme’s career, her public image, and how she navigated the world of fame and performance. Ultimately, this small card offers us a glimpse into the cultural and economic forces that were shaping modern celebrity culture.