Card Number 129, Miss Helen Brum, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-4) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cameo Cigarettes 1880s

Editor: This is Card Number 129, a portrait of Miss Helen Brum from the Actors and Actresses series dating back to the 1880s. It was a promotional card by Duke Sons & Co. for Cameo Cigarettes, made of print and photography. It’s a really striking profile. What jumps out at you? Curator: What immediately grabs my attention is the overt connection between celebrity, performance, and consumer culture in the late 19th century. The card is, on one level, a classic example of the burgeoning advertising industry. But beyond just peddling cigarettes, it’s actively crafting a desirable image by associating its product with glamour and fame. Consider the context: The late 1800s saw the rise of mass media and a growing interest in public figures. Editor: So, this card isn’t just about selling cigarettes. It's reflecting a bigger cultural shift? Curator: Precisely! Duke Sons & Co. is leveraging the burgeoning cult of celebrity. They’re tapping into a market eager to consume not just a product but also a lifestyle, an aspiration. How might this compare to celebrity endorsements today? Editor: Well, now it's all over social media! Actors endorse everything from clothes to cars. I guess the medium has changed, but the core idea is still the same. Curator: Exactly. The core commercial imperative has been constant for over a century, to use influence to move product. What strikes me is seeing the beginning of the commodification of fame happening right here, on a tiny card for cigarettes. Editor: I never thought about it that way before, it really highlights how consumerism shapes not just what we buy, but what we admire, too. Thanks! Curator: Absolutely! Looking at this image has reminded me that history has a knack for rhyming; what’s considered edgy today becomes old news tomorrow!