Card Number 390, Elsie Pettie, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-3) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes 1880s

This 19th century, black and white, photographic print of Elsie Pettie was created by W. Duke, Sons & Co. as part of a series of trading cards promoting their Cross Cut Cigarettes. Issued in the 1880s, this card features a bust-length portrait of the actress wearing a lace bonnet. The photograph is a promotional tool for the brand and exemplifies the late 19th-century trend of using celebrity endorsements to promote products. This card is an excellent example of ephemera, a catch-all term for items that were intended for short-term use. The Metropolitan Museum of Art houses this particular piece in their collection.