Card 673, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 2) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

This is a trade card, a popular form of advertising in the late 19th century. Part of a series featuring actors and actresses, this card was produced by Allen & Ginter to promote their Virginia Brights Cigarettes. The image is a bust-length portrait of a woman, possibly an actress, with her hair elaborately styled. These cards are a testament to the use of lithography in the late 19th century. While the identity of the woman in the image is not known, the card's detailed composition, including the brand name, reflects the attention to visual appeal and the use of celebrity endorsements prevalent in advertising of that era.