Card 828, Fanny Rice, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 2) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

Curator: The Actors and Actresses series of trade cards was quite popular at the end of the 19th century. Here we see “Card 828, Fanny Rice” from the Virginia Brights Cigarettes set, dating between 1885 and 1891. Editor: My initial impression is that this piece exudes performance—a constructed identity, presented with confidence. There's a sense of playful defiance in her eyes. Curator: Exactly! These cards were, in essence, early forms of advertising using celebrity endorsements. Cigarette companies like Allen & Ginter, the producers of this card, aimed to associate their brand with the glamour and cultural appeal of stage actors like Fanny Rice. It was very effective for that public role. Editor: The costuming contributes so much! Look at the almost theatrical military jacket—perhaps nodding to specific roles Rice played. The jaunty hat, complete with its assertive plume, it reads as a symbolic assertion of her stage persona bleeding into her everyday identity. Curator: You've touched on a crucial point. These cards weren't merely about selling cigarettes. They also democratized access to celebrity culture. They placed images of famous actresses within reach of ordinary people, even those who couldn't afford theater tickets. Editor: And that dissemination holds power. A performer, once confined to the stage, is now reproducible, collectible. The toast she seems to be making takes on an almost talismanic meaning—a good luck gesture preserved, re-enacted by those holding the card. A shared moment between performer and consumer. Curator: I agree, the Virginia Brights Cigarettes series exemplifies the fascinating intersection of commerce, celebrity culture, and art during the late 19th century. Editor: These small paper emissaries become conduits—transmitting ideas about beauty, success, and identity. Curator: Yes, the seemingly simple image really invites contemplation about how these dynamics were constructed, negotiated, and ultimately consumed by the public. Editor: I'll certainly view trade cards with renewed fascination from now on, a whole realm of visual narratives just waiting to be unfolded.