Miss Adair, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 8) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

This small card, part of the Actors and Actresses series by Allen & Ginter, was designed to be included in packs of Virginia Brights Cigarettes. It captures Miss Adair, an actress of the late 19th century, on a swing, in costume. These cards emerged during a period of burgeoning consumer culture, and reflect society’s increasing fascination with celebrity and the commodification of the female image. While seemingly a benign promotion, this image also speaks to the limited roles available to women in the public sphere at the time. Actresses occupied an ambiguous space, admired yet often subject to moral scrutiny. Miss Adair, suspended on a swing, embodies a sense of fleeting freedom, yet her image is firmly contained within the parameters of this small card, a reminder of the constraints placed upon women and their representation during this era.