Card Number 387, Carrie Perkins, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-7) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Duke Cigarettes 1880s

This card featuring Carrie Perkins, an actress, was produced around 1870-1920 by W. Duke, Sons & Co. as part of a series promoting Duke Cigarettes. Perkins’ theatrical costume reveals much about the cultural values of the time. The tasseled skirt she wears echoes the kind of ornamentation found in ancient Near Eastern garments, meant to signal status and prosperity through elaborate display. Consider, for example, how similar tassels appear on the robes of Mesopotamian rulers, emblems of their power and divine connection. The reappearance of such motifs over centuries speaks to a collective memory. The subconscious allure of these symbols lies in their historical association with power and exoticism, recurring in fashion and performance to evoke a sense of the spectacular. This reflects a deep-seated desire to connect with historical narratives and express social standing, continually reinterpreted through our cultural symbols.