Emma Abbott, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-8) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Duke Cigarettes 1890 - 1895

This card, featuring Emma Abbott, was produced around the turn of the century by W. Duke, Sons & Co., using albumen silver print on card stock. This was a widely used photographic printing process, and the card would have been inserted into packs of Duke cigarettes as a collectible item. The sepia tones and the relatively low resolution speaks to the industrial processes of mass production at this time. The image's material qualities influenced its function, making it durable enough to withstand handling. The process marks a departure from individually made portraits, aligning with emerging consumer culture and advertising strategies. This card, small as it is, gives insight into the ways the burgeoning tobacco industry leveraged celebrity endorsements and popular culture to boost sales. The convergence of photography, celebrity culture, and mass marketing underscores how capitalism permeates various facets of life, blurring the boundaries between art, commerce, and identity.