M'lle Winship, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 1) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

This is a trade card from the *Actors and Actresses* series produced by Allen & Ginter to promote their Virginia Brights cigarettes. The card features a portrait of *M’lle Winship*, a stage actress, likely taken between 1885 and 1891. This series, made popular in the late 19th century, utilized the likenesses of famous actors and actresses as a form of marketing and were often collected as a pastime. The portrait is a simple, yet effective, photograph presented in the *carte de visite* format, showcasing the performer in a formal pose. *M’lle Winship* is pictured wearing a white dress with lace, and is depicted in a posed, theatrical manner, reflecting the conventions of 19th-century portraiture. These cards are now sought after by collectors of ephemera and are a significant part of American cultural history.