Card Number 334, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-1) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes 1880s

This 19th-century trade card features a portrait of an actress, likely promoting Cross Cut Cigarettes. The monochrome image, typical of the era, showcases the subject in a seated pose, adorned with elaborate headwear and clothing. It was created by W. Duke, Sons & Co., a prominent tobacco company, and exemplifies the use of celebrity endorsements in advertising during the late 19th century. The card, now housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, serves as a visual record of the social and commercial landscape of that time.