Card 411, Helen Dacre, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 1) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

This small card was printed by Allen and Ginter of Richmond, Virginia, as a promotional item for their cigarettes, sometime in the late nineteenth century. These cards were collected by smokers, particularly children, and served as a kind of proto-trading card. This particular card features Helen Dacre, an actress, and is part of a larger series depicting actors and actresses. The fact that these cards were included in cigarette packs tells us something about the public role of actors at the time. Allen and Ginter sought to connect their product with the glamour and excitement of the theater, suggesting that smoking was a way to partake in the modern entertainment industry. The image itself is fairly standard, a posed photograph in profile, which gives us some indication of how femininity and celebrity were constructed in that era. In understanding the social and cultural implications of this card, a historian might look to sources such as theater programs, fan magazines, and advertisements. By placing this small card within its broader context, we can gain a better understanding of the social conditions that shaped both the production and reception of art in the late nineteenth century.