Card Number 27, Belle Ponard, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-2) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes 1880s

This card of Belle Ponard, from the Actors and Actresses series, was made in the United States in the late nineteenth century by W. Duke, Sons & Co. as an advertisement for Cross Cut Cigarettes. These cards represent a fascinating intersection of commerce, celebrity culture, and the visual arts. The image presents Ponard in theatrical costume, posed against a backdrop that evokes both the classical world and a stage set. It shows how the rising advertising industry was quick to associate its products with the glamour of the theater, using well-known actresses to promote their goods. This type of advertisement reflects the growing consumer culture of the time. Cigarette cards were collected and traded, becoming a popular pastime. This gave them a wide reach in society. To fully understand this image, we might turn to theater history, advertising studies, and the social history of tobacco consumption. The significance of this card lies not only in its aesthetic qualities but also in what it tells us about the cultural values and commercial practices of its time.