Capitola Wiline, from the Actresses series (N245) issued by Kinney Brothers to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes 1890

"Capitola Wiline," from the "Actresses" series, is a sepia-toned photograph of a woman holding a chair. The photo was printed as a trade card, issued by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company in 1890 to promote Sweet Caporal cigarettes. The card features the name of the actress depicted, "Capitola Wiline," and was likely distributed in packs of cigarettes. The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City holds the card, which is a small, 2.5 x 1.75-inch print, typical of the cigarette card format of the late nineteenth century. These cards, which often featured portraits of actresses, athletes, and other celebrities, are an interesting example of early-20th-century ephemera.