Charlotte Wolter, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 1) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

This 1885-1891 "trade card" features actress Charlotte Wolter and was produced by Allen & Ginter, a well-known tobacco company, as part of their Actors and Actresses series promoting Virginia Brights Cigarettes. The sepia-toned photograph depicts Wolter in a relaxed pose, likely in a theatrical setting, as she leans back in a chair. The image is part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection and showcases the use of celebrity endorsements for advertising purposes during the late 19th century. These collectible cards, known as "cartes de visite," were popular and widely distributed, becoming significant artifacts of social history and early photography.