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

This photograph is a cabinet card, part of the “Actors and Actresses” series of trade cards produced by Allen & Ginter between 1885-1891. It features Edith Kingdon, a famous stage actress of the late nineteenth century. This series was produced by the tobacco company to promote their “Virginia Brights” cigarettes. The cards depict actors and actresses in profile view, often with a simple background, highlighting their features. These cards were widely collected by the public and are now considered important historical artifacts, capturing a moment in the history of theater and the rise of cigarette smoking in the United States.