Sadie Kirby, from the Actresses series (N203) issued by Wm. S. Kimball & Co. 1889

This carte de visite, "Sadie Kirby", was created in 1889 by William S. Kimball & Company as part of a series of images advertising their brand of cigarettes. The photograph features a woman, Sadie Kirby, standing in a studio setting, her hand resting on a table. The image was printed on a small card, a common format for portraits in the 19th century. This is a great example of the use of photographic imagery in the promotion of consumer goods, a popular practice in the late 19th century.