Violet Cameron, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-7) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Duke Cigarettes 1880s

This cigarette card depicting actress Violet Cameron was produced by W. Duke, Sons & Co., sometime between 1870 and 1920. It's made using industrial printing techniques onto thin card stock, with an image of Cameron in profile. These cards were essentially miniature billboards, designed to be collected and traded. The sepia tone gives the image a sense of vintage charm, but it’s really about mass production and marketing, capitalizing on celebrity culture. The cards were included in cigarette packs, enticing consumers with the possibility of completing a set. Think about the labor involved: from cultivating the tobacco to printing millions of these cards, all feeding into a global network of production and consumption. The card isn't just a portrait; it's a window into the economics of desire, blurring the lines between art, advertising, and everyday life. It reminds us that even the smallest objects can tell big stories about society and culture.