From the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 5) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

This is a small-format, sepia-toned photograph from the *From the Actors and Actresses series* (N45, Type 5) of trading cards produced by Allen & Ginter for Virginia Brights Cigarettes in the late 19th century. The portrait features a young woman with a pensive expression, shrouded in a patterned shawl. This type of card was incredibly popular during the late 19th century and features a wide array of performers from the world of theater. The use of a sepia-toned photograph, while simple, is quite striking in its aesthetic and helped elevate the cards to a more refined level of art. The Metropolitan Museum of Art houses the card, which measures 2 3/4 x 1 3/8 in (7 x 3.5 cm).