Card Number 393, Della Castro, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-3) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes 1880s

This 1880s trade card from the Actors and Actresses series features a portrait of Della Castro, a stage actress, holding a fan. The card was created by W. Duke, Sons & Co., a tobacco company, to promote their Cross Cut Cigarettes. The image is typical of trade cards of the period with a simple black and white photograph and clear lettering promoting the product. These cards were often collected by cigarette smokers and can be found today in museums and private collections. The card's dimensions are Sheet: 2 11/16 × 1 3/8 in. (6.8 × 3.5 cm) and is currently housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, NY.