M. Stevenson, from the Actresses series (N245) issued by Kinney Brothers to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes 1890

This 1890 card, part of the Actresses series by Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company, features a portrait of actress M. Stevenson. The image, printed on a small card measuring just over two inches tall, is likely a reproduction of a larger photograph. The series was created to promote the company's Sweet Caporal Cigarettes, a popular brand of the era. The portrait of M. Stevenson, captured in a simple pose, shows her with an elegant hairstyle and a demure expression, capturing a snapshot of late 19th-century fashion and stage performance. The card is part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection of trade cards, which offer a glimpse into the history of advertising and consumer culture.