Varona, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 1) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

This is a trading card from the *Actors and Actresses series* (N45, Type 1) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes, featuring a portrait of the actress Varona. This series was produced by Allen & Ginter between 1885 and 1891. The card depicts Varona in a simple dress, with her hair neatly styled and wearing a white bonnet. It is a black and white photograph, typical of the time period. The card was created as a marketing tactic to promote Virginia Brights Cigarettes, a popular brand of the time. The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City houses this piece of ephemera.