Card 273, Miss Milwood, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 1) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

"Card 273, Miss Milwood" is a trade card from the "Actors and Actresses" series, created by Allen & Ginter for Virginia Brights Cigarettes between 1885 and 1891. It features a black and white photograph of Miss Milwood, a prominent actress of the time, sitting in a chair. The card is a prime example of "trade card art," a popular form of advertising in the 19th century. These cards, often featuring portraits of celebrities or scenes from daily life, served as collectible promotional items for various products. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, holds this small, yet significant, piece of American advertising history.