Victoria Schilling, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-6) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Duke Cigarettes 1880s

This is a trade card from the 1880s created by W. Duke, Sons & Co. to promote Duke Cigarettes. The card features a portrait of actress Victoria Schilling, dressed in a light-colored, star-patterned gown. This particular card is from the company’s "Actors and Actresses" series of trade cards. These cards were widely distributed in the late 19th century to advertise the product to a wide audience and are a great example of the use of celebrity endorsements in marketing. This specific card is a photomechanical reproduction measuring 2 11/16 x 1 3/8 inches and is part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection in New York City.