Card Number 137, Lydia Thompson, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-2) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes 1880s

This trade card from the 1880s, part of the "Actors and Actresses" series, features Lydia Thompson, a renowned English actress and comedienne. Created by W. Duke, Sons & Co. to promote their "Cross Cut Cigarettes", the card showcases Thompson in a theatrical pose, likely from one of her performances. The card exemplifies the use of celebrity endorsements in advertising during the late 19th century. The card is a valuable historical artifact and is housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.