Nellie Standish, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 1) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

This is a photograph of Nellie Standish from the Actors and Actresses series, made by Allen & Ginter for Virginia Brights Cigarettes. Cards like this are artifacts of the late 19th century in the United States, a time when the burgeoning tobacco industry sought innovative ways to market its products. These cards, inserted into cigarette packs, were part of a larger cultural phenomenon of collecting and trading, reflecting a society increasingly driven by consumerism and celebrity culture. The choice of actors and actresses as subjects speaks to the rising status of performers in the public imagination, fueled by the growth of theater and other forms of popular entertainment. Understanding these images requires us to look beyond their surface appeal, using archives of advertising history to understand the intersection of commerce, culture, and identity in the Gilded Age.