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

This cabinet card, part of the Actresses series, depicts Mena, a well-known actress of the time. The Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company issued these cards in 1890 to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes. The image shows Mena in a three-quarter length portrait, posing against a neutral background. Her elegant attire and delicate features, captured with the soft focus of the photographic process, evoke the charm of 19th-century portraiture. The card is a prime example of the use of celebrity endorsements in marketing during the late 19th century. The card is a rare artifact of American popular culture and an example of early advertising in America.