Miss Carlton, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 8) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

This card, featuring Miss Carlton, was made by Allen & Ginter as part of a series of actors and actresses, designed to be included in packs of Virginia Brights Cigarettes. The card is a small rectangle of paper, printed with a sepia-toned photograph. As a mass-produced object, the card is a testament to the industrialization of image-making in the late 19th century. Photography had become relatively commonplace, yet its distribution through tobacco products speaks volumes about the emerging culture of celebrity and consumption. The process of photomechanical reproduction allowed for the mass dissemination of images, turning art into a collectible commodity. This was only made possible due to the exploitation of labor and resources within the tobacco industry and beyond. The convergence of art, industry, and commerce is evident in this seemingly simple card, reminding us of the complex networks of production and exchange that shape our cultural landscape.