Card Number 98, Miss Dille Dean, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-2) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes 1880s

This is a trade card featuring Miss Dille Dean, an actress, from the *Actors and Actresses* series issued in the 1880s by W. Duke, Sons & Co. to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes. The card depicts Dean in a simple pose, wearing a white bonnet, looking directly at the viewer. This style of trade card is a prime example of *carte de visite* photography, a popular format in the 19th century that was often used to promote products or businesses. The card was issued by W. Duke, Sons & Co., the makers of Cross Cut cigarettes. The company, founded by Washington Duke, used this type of advertising to expand its market reach and promote its brand. The card, now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, is a small piece of ephemera that reveals fascinating details about the cultural landscape of the late 19th century.