Card Number 117, Annie Robe, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-2) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes 1880s

This is a promotional card of Annie Robe, created around 1888 by W. Duke, Sons & Co. as part of an Actors and Actresses series for Cross Cut Cigarettes. These cards reflect the Victorian era’s fascination with celebrity and consumer culture, yet they also hint at deeper social narratives. Annie Robe, like other actresses featured, became a vehicle for advertising, her image commodified to sell cigarettes. The sets, like the backdrop here, often exoticized theatrical settings, adding to their allure. The card's design promotes traditional beauty standards, but when viewed critically, it raises questions about the representation of women and their roles in a rapidly changing industrial society. Robe’s wistful gaze evokes both charm and melancholy, perhaps echoing the transient nature of fame itself. Ultimately, the card is not just a piece of ephemera but a tiny mirror reflecting the complex interplay of identity, commerce, and cultural values of the time.