Card Number 96, Violet Cameron, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-4) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cameo Cigarettes 1880s

Card Number 96, Violet Cameron, from the Actors and Actresses series was issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cameo Cigarettes. These cards emerged during a time of burgeoning consumer culture, where celebrity endorsements began to shape public desire. But it’s not just about selling cigarettes. This image of Violet Cameron invites us to consider the role of women in the late 19th century. As an actress, Cameron occupied a space both public and precarious. Her likeness, reproduced on these cards, speaks to the commodification of female beauty and talent. How does it feel to have your image reproduced on an object to be sold? The fur draped around Cameron’s shoulders and piled atop her head speaks to a performance of wealth and status. This card offered ordinary people a glimpse into a world of glamour and celebrity, blurring the lines between reality and fantasy. It makes you wonder, what stories did people tell themselves as they collected these cards? Ultimately, this seemingly simple advertisement reveals the complex interplay between identity, consumption, and representation in the Victorian era.