Ida Bell, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 1) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

"Ida Bell, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 1) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes" is a carte de visite, or CDV, from the late 19th century. The image shows a posed portrait of actress Ida Bell in a theatrical costume. CDVs were popular in the 1800s as a way for people to share portraits with friends and family. This CDV was created as a collectible trading card for Virginia Brights Cigarettes, a popular brand at the time. The card features a small image of Ida Bell, surrounded by the company's logo and slogan, and was likely distributed with a pack of cigarettes. Today the card is in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.