Card Number 637, Ivy Willis, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-3) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes 1880s

"Card Number 637, Ivy Willis," from the "Actors and Actresses" series is a trade card produced by W. Duke, Sons & Co. in the 1880s to promote their Cross Cut Cigarettes. This black and white photograph depicts Ivy Willis, a popular actress of the time, in a relaxed pose. The card, now part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection, exemplifies the use of celebrity endorsements in advertising during the late 19th century. The card's simple design, featuring a portrait of Willis against a backdrop suggesting a seaside setting, is characteristic of the trade card genre. It highlights the growing popularity of cigarettes as a consumer product during this period.