Card 483, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 5) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

This card was made by Allen & Ginter for Virginia Brights Cigarettes. It’s a photograph, likely mass-produced, and glued onto card stock. This was a popular way of advertising at the time, using images of actors and actresses to promote consumer culture. The material qualities of the card are telling; it's small, easily pocketed, and disposable, reflecting a culture of mass consumption. The photograph itself captures the actress in a staged pose, her costume hinting at a theatrical role. This would have been a significant skill, with the actress possibly hand tinting the photograph. The card’s association with cigarettes points to the burgeoning market for tobacco, reliant on factory labor and global trade. By collecting these cards, consumers became part of a network linking entertainment, advertising, and the industrial processes of the late 19th century. This seemingly simple card reveals the complex intersection of performance, labor, and consumerism in a rapidly changing world.