Mlle. Stella, from the Actresses series (N203) issued by Wm. S. Kimball & Co. 1889

"Mlle. Stella, from the Actresses series" is a trade card produced by William S. Kimball & Company in 1889. This photograph features a woman, Mlle. Stella, holding a jump rope. The trade card is part of a series that was used to promote the company's cigarettes. This type of advertising, known as "trade card advertising" was a common practice in the 19th century and helped to promote brands to the public. Trade card images often featured women, as they were seen as a more desirable image for consumers. The image is a monochrome photograph and shows a woman in a dark dress holding a jump rope. The image is cropped to show her waist up, with the jump rope visible in front of her. This artifact from the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York is a good example of a trade card from the 19th century, and gives us a glimpse into the history of advertising.