Estelle Rowe, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 1) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

This carte-de-visite, or trade card, is part of the "Actors and Actresses" series produced by Allen & Ginter for Virginia Brights Cigarettes. It features Estelle Rowe, a popular stage actress of the late 19th century. The image, likely taken from a studio photograph, showcases Rowe in a theatrical pose, with her name inscribed at the bottom. The trade card, printed on thin card stock, exemplifies the marketing strategies of the time, using popular figures to promote the brand. This particular card, now housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, is a prime example of ephemera reflecting the intersection of performance, advertising, and the burgeoning mass-produced culture of the late 19th century.