Card 669, Miss Johnson, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 1) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

This is a trade card for Virginia Brights cigarettes featuring a portrait of actress Miss Johnson. It's part of the "Actors and Actresses" series produced by Allen & Ginter from 1885 to 1891. The black and white photograph shows Miss Johnson in a lace-trimmed dress, with her hair styled in a fashionable updo. This small-format card, measuring only 2 3/4 x 1 3/8 inches, is a fascinating example of the use of celebrity imagery in advertising during the late 19th century. The card, now in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, offers a glimpse into the world of American theater and the popularity of tobacco products in the Gilded Age.