Seated woman (on red silk), from the Girl Art Subjects series (N193) issued by Wm. S. Kimball & Co. 1887 - 1894

This is a trade card for William S. Kimball & Company’s “Satin Straight Cut Cigarettes”. The card, printed on red silk, features a woman sitting in a chair with a cigarette box on her lap and a fireplace in the background. This piece is part of the “Girl Art Subjects series” of trade cards and is an example of a marketing strategy used in the late 19th century. The image is a simple yet effective way to advertise Kimball’s cigarettes and appeal to potential customers through imagery of a fashionable and stylish woman. Trade cards were often collected by consumers, making them a highly effective and collectible form of advertising.