Card Number 205, Blanche Roosevelt, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-1) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes 1880s

"Card Number 205, Blanche Roosevelt," is a trade card from the 1880s, part of the *Actors and Actresses* series issued by W. Duke, Sons & Co. to promote their *Cross Cut Cigarettes*. The card features a portrait of the actress Blanche Roosevelt in a formal pose, dressed in a white gown with elaborate detail. It is a prime example of a popular 19th-century advertising method, where collectible cards were used to build brand recognition and loyalty. The card is now part of the collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, providing a glimpse into the history of advertising and the world of theater in the late 19th century.