Adelaide Merton, from the Actresses series (N245) issued by Kinney Brothers to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes 1890

This 1890 cabinet card, part of the “Actresses” series produced by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company to promote Sweet Caporal cigarettes, features a portrait of Adelaide Merton. The photograph is a sepia-toned, monochrome image showing the actress in a seated pose, dressed in a white gown with a lace trim. The image is typical of the cabinet cards that were popular in the late 19th century and depicts Merton in a formal portrait style. The cards were commonly collected, traded and displayed by fans of the actresses featured. The image is currently part of the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.