Card Number 555, Fanny Rice, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-7) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Duke Cigarettes 1880s

This is a trade card featuring Fanny Rice, an American actress and comedienne. It is part of the "Actors and Actresses" series of trade cards issued by W. Duke, Sons & Co. to promote their Duke Cigarettes. The card shows a close-up portrait of Rice, looking down, with her hands clasped in her lap. The background is a cloudy sky with text at the bottom promoting Duke Cigarettes. The card was printed in the 1880s and is now housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. This small, but beautifully detailed image provides a glimpse into the advertising techniques of the 19th century, using popular figures to boost sales.