Celia Ellis, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-3) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes 1880s

This is a portrait of actress Celia Ellis from the "Actors and Actresses" series, part of a collection of trade cards issued by W. Duke, Sons & Co. to promote their Cross Cut Cigarettes. The card depicts a posed image of Ellis standing outdoors, dressed in a long white dress and gazing directly at the viewer. The image has a vintage, sepia-toned look and showcases the trend in the 1880s to depict actresses as glamorous and sophisticated. This card, now in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, is an example of the marketing strategies of the late 19th century, using popular culture figures to appeal to a broad audience.