Mlle. Dimitri, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 8) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

This is a *carte de visite* (CDV), a small photograph produced in the mid-19th century. "Mlle. Dimitri, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 8) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes," was created by Allen & Ginter between 1885 and 1891. This was a popular form of advertising during the time period. The CDV shows a female actress, Mlle Dimitri, in a theatrical pose, holding a dagger. It was intended to be given away to consumers with the purchase of Virginia Brights Cigarettes, a brand of tobacco. *Carte de visite* cards became popular in the 19th century and were used to trade and collect images of celebrities. The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City houses this small, but significant piece of cultural history.