Miss Mertens, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-7) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Duke Cigarettes 1880s

"Miss Mertens, from the Actors and Actresses series" is a carte de visite, a type of small photograph popular in the 19th century. The photograph, issued by W. Duke, Sons & Co., features Miss Mertens, possibly an actress, holding a tambourine. The image was part of a series of cards distributed by the tobacco company to promote Duke Cigarettes, a testament to the ubiquitous nature of advertising during the late 19th century. The photograph is now part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection.