Card 290, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 4) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

This is a "cigarette card" from the *Actors and Actresses* series, produced by Allen & Ginter in Richmond, Virginia, between 1885 and 1891. The series, printed on card stock measuring 2 3/4 x 1 3/8 inches, features a black and white photograph of an unidentified actress, seen in profile, adorned in a lace blouse. The card is part of a larger set, created as a promotional tool for the Virginia Brights brand of cigarettes. This particular card, numbered 290, is now part of the collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. These cards, considered a precursor to trading cards, provide a fascinating glimpse into late 19th-century entertainment culture and the marketing practices of the era.