Card Number 609, Laura Burt, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-3) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes 1880s

This trade card, titled "Card Number 609, Laura Burt," is part of the "Actors and Actresses" series produced by W. Duke, Sons & Co. in the 1880s to promote their Cross Cut Cigarettes. The card features a woman, possibly actress Laura Burt, dressed in a costume that evokes the imagery of Cupid, the Roman god of love, complete with wings and an arrow. The card's small size, measuring only 2 11/16 × 1 3/8 inches, suggests it was likely distributed as part of a larger advertising campaign. These trade cards, popular in the late 19th century, used images of popular entertainers to promote commercial products, blurring the lines between entertainment and advertising.