Card Number 25, Geraldine Ulmer, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-1) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes 1880s

This card of Geraldine Ulmer was issued by Duke Sons & Co., using photographic and printing techniques. It was included in packs of Cross Cut Cigarettes as a collectible item. Here, the material of the card stock itself is crucial. It is thin, cheap, and designed for mass consumption. The photographic image, likely produced through a combination of skilled studio work and industrial printing, flattens Ulmer into a commodity. The sepia tone gives the image a sense of nostalgia, while also revealing its origins in early photographic processes. The card’s value lies not only in the image it presents, but also in its role as a token within a larger system of consumerism. It is a reminder that even seemingly ephemeral objects can carry significant cultural and economic weight. In considering this card, we must acknowledge that the cigarette industry relied on a vast network of labor, from tobacco farmers to factory workers to distributors. By examining its materials and context, we can gain a deeper understanding of its place within a complex web of production, consumption, and representation.