Card 342, Rose Coghlan, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 1) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

This card, featuring actress Rose Coghlan, was made by the Allen & Ginter company as a promotional insert for Virginia Brights cigarettes. These cards, mass-produced using photomechanical printing, served as a marketing tool, capitalizing on the popularity of actors and actresses. The photographic process allowed for the relatively quick reproduction of images, feeding a growing consumer culture. Unlike a unique painting or sculpture, this was an object of industrial manufacture. The card’s small size and delicate paper speak to its intended disposability, a fleeting encounter with fame amidst the act of consumption. The very existence of this card points to the labor involved in tobacco production, printing, and distribution, and the convergence of entertainment, advertising, and everyday habits during the late 19th century. Thinking about this card makes you realize that even seemingly simple images can reveal complex stories about the social context of their making.