Actress holding tall pointed staff, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-1) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes 1880s

This is a trade card from the 1880s advertising Cross Cut Cigarettes, part of a series featuring actors and actresses. It features a woman in a costume with a long staff, potentially portraying a character from a play or a historical figure. This type of advertising was common in the late 19th century, using imagery to appeal to consumers and promote the product. The card, measuring 2 1/2 × 1 3/8 inches, is a prime example of the use of ephemera in promoting commercial goods and serves as a valuable artifact for studying the cultural history of the period.