Card Number 619, Flora Walch, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-3) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes 1880s

This 1880s trade card, part of the "Actors and Actresses" series issued by W. Duke, Sons & Co. to promote their Cross Cut Cigarettes, features a portrait of actress Flora Walch holding a small kitten. The card is a prime example of the use of celebrity endorsements in advertising, particularly in the late 19th century. The image is in black and white, typical of the time, and captures Walch in a relaxed, informal pose, likely meant to appeal to the cigarette's target audience. The card measures 2 11/16 x 1 3/8 inches and is currently held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. This collectible trade card offers a glimpse into the world of late 19th-century advertising and the evolving role of celebrity culture.