Card Number 391, Nellie Beaumont, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-5) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cameo Cigarettes 1880s

This is Card Number 391, Nellie Beaumont, from the Actors and Actresses series, created by W. Duke, Sons & Co. to promote Cameo Cigarettes. These cards reflect the late 19th century’s fascination with performers and the burgeoning culture of celebrity. Nellie Beaumont, an actress, is presented in costume, a deliberate construction of identity for public consumption. The card captures a moment in which gender, performance, and commerce intersect. These cards were designed to be collected, traded, and consumed, much like the cigarettes they advertised. Beaumont's image, reproduced and distributed widely, contributed to shaping ideas about femininity and entertainment. By placing actors and actresses on these cards, the manufacturer was able to associate their product with the glamour and allure of the theater. It's a reminder of how images, even in small formats, can shape cultural values and personal aspirations. These cards encouraged people to participate in a culture that was rapidly changing with the advent of mass media.