Mlle. de Lussan, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 1) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

This 19th-century trade card features a portrait of "Mlle. de Lussan", a performer from the Actors and Actresses series produced by Allen & Ginter for Virginia Brights Cigarettes. The image, printed in black and white, shows a woman in a lavish costume, her face in a three-quarter profile, possibly an actor's portrait. This small-scale collectible card, known as a "carte de visite", was common in the 19th century, often used for advertising and marketing purposes. The Metropolitan Museum of Art houses this particular example.