Mary Mills, from the Actresses series (N245) issued by Kinney Brothers to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes 1890

This is a trade card featuring actress Mary Mills, part of the "Actresses" series issued by Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company in 1890 to promote Sweet Caporal cigarettes. The sepia-toned photograph showcases Mills in a fashionable ensemble, a fur-trimmed coat and a large feathered hat. The card is a quintessential example of late-19th-century advertising, using the popularity of actresses to market their product. This trade card is currently housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.