Card 868, Edith Kingdon, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 2) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

This is a card from Allen & Ginter’s "Actors and Actresses" series, featuring Edith Kingdon, made to promote Virginia Brights Cigarettes. These cards, which gained popularity in the late 19th century, offer a glimpse into the social and cultural values of the time, particularly concerning gender and celebrity. Edith Kingdon, as an actress, occupied a unique position. Actresses were among the few women who could achieve public recognition and financial independence, yet they often faced scrutiny and judgment from a society that policed women's behavior. While the cards celebrated these women, they also served to commodify their images, turning them into objects of consumption. In this context, Kingdon’s image—and others like hers—walk a tightrope between empowerment and objectification. They reflect a society grappling with evolving ideas about women's roles and visibility, and hint at the complex dynamics of fame. These images invited people to participate in the celebrity culture of the late 1800’s.