Samuel L. Clemens (Mark Twain), from the Actresses series (N203) issued by Wm. S. Kimball & Co. 1889

This is a cabinet card from the Actresses series, a set of cards produced by Wm. S. Kimball & Co. in 1889. The card features Samuel L. Clemens, better known as Mark Twain, the famous American author and humorist. The image, a simple black and white portrait in profile, showcases Twain's distinctive features, including his mustache and a hint of a smile. These cards were part of a marketing campaign for Kimball & Co.'s brand of cigarettes, using the image of popular figures to promote their product. Cabinet cards, a popular format in the late 19th century, were often collected and displayed. This particular card, now in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, provides a glimpse into the cultural impact of Twain and the popularity of collectible cards in the late 19th century.