Actress wearing hat with dove on brim, from Stars of the Stage, Second Series (N130) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Honest Long Cut Tobacco 1891

This chromolithograph was made around 1888 by W. Duke, Sons & Co. as part of a series of collectible cards promoting Honest Long Cut Tobacco. This card presents an actress, one of many stars that were featured to encourage brand loyalty. What are the politics of this imagery? Well, tobacco cards emerged as a popular advertising medium during a period of industrial expansion and burgeoning consumer culture in the United States. The cards, included in cigarette packs, were designed to be collected and traded, fostering a sense of community among smokers. By depicting famous actresses, the cards appealed to a broad audience and linked the consumption of tobacco with glamour and success. These cards were also a means of circulating images of women at a time when their visibility was limited by social norms. The social conditions shaping this production were the rise of mass media and advertising, which helped to shape social and cultural attitudes. Further research into the archives of advertising history can reveal the ways this and other cards helped shape cultural values in the Gilded Age.