Marie Chester, from World's Beauties, Series 2 (N27) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1888

This chromolithograph, part of the "World's Beauties" series, depicts Marie Chester in profile. Created by Allen & Ginter, a prominent tobacco company, in 1888, it was included in their cigarette packs as a collectible trading card. The card showcases the sitter’s elegant features, with her hair styled in a fashionable wave. These cards were a popular form of advertising in the late 19th century, capitalizing on the burgeoning collecting craze. The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York houses this small, yet charming, example of a trade card's artistic value.