Card Number 26, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-1) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes 1880s

This 1880s trade card from the "Actors and Actresses" series, issued by W. Duke, Sons & Co. to promote "Cross Cut Cigarettes", features a bust-length portrait of an unidentified woman in a fashionable, lace-trimmed dress. The card is a prime example of "trade card art," a type of commercial art popular during the 19th century, often featuring actors, actresses, and other celebrities to promote products. These cards are a fascinating glimpse into popular culture of the era and a source of information about the evolution of advertising and visual culture. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY, houses this card, measuring 2 1/2 × 1 3/8 inches.