Actress holding long sword in both hands, from Stars of the Stage, Second Series (N130) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Honest Long Cut Tobacco 1891

This chromolithograph, "Actress holding long sword in both hands," was created by W. Duke, Sons & Co., in 1891 to promote "Honest Long Cut" tobacco. Part of the "Stars of the Stage" series, this image uses a theatrical aesthetic to appeal to the public, with the actress holding a sword in both hands, a dramatic gesture that references a play or opera. The image highlights a popular figure in the culture, using it to appeal to the target demographic of men during the late 19th century. The image's small size, 4 1/8 × 2 7/16 in., was intended to be easily distributed as part of the tobacco product.