Card Number 104, Miss Burt, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-2) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes 1880s

This is Card Number 104, Miss Burt, made around 1888 by W. Duke, Sons & Co. as one of a series of promotional cigarette cards. These cards emerged in a period when the marketing of tobacco products began to include images of actresses and other performers. These images helped to promote not just the cigarettes but also certain ideals of beauty and success. Miss Burt, like other actresses featured, embodies a complex set of social expectations, as she had to navigate her public persona, the demands of her profession, and the gaze of a largely male audience. Looking at her costume, you might consider the ways women performers challenged or reinforced gender roles in the late 19th century. As these cards were widely distributed, they played a role in shaping public perceptions of women in the entertainment industry. The actress becomes an icon of both aspiration and objectification, reflecting the intertwined nature of personal identity and commercial culture.