Ugalde, Des Bouffes, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 1) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

This is a "trade card" from the "Actors and Actresses" series produced by Allen & Ginter between 1885 and 1891. The card depicts a bust-length portrait of the actress Ugalde, Des Bouffes. The series was intended to be distributed with Virginia Brights cigarettes, and is a testament to the use of ephemera in early advertising. The sepia-toned photograph is a typical example of the photographic style of the period, and is a valuable historical record of the popular actors and actresses of the time. This card is now part of the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.