Card Number 165, Miss Fuller, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-2) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes 1880s

This trade card from the late 19th century, made by W. Duke, Sons & Co., features Miss Fuller, an actress, promoting Cross Cut Cigarettes. Note the prominent fan she holds. The fan, a symbol of status and allure, has roots stretching back to ancient civilizations. Across cultures, it signified power, discretion, and even flirtation. Think of the elaborate fans wielded by geishas in Japan, each movement telling a silent story, or the peacock fans of European royalty, emblems of opulence and influence. In this image, the fan, a symbol of her profession, obscures and reveals, creating an alluring dance between visibility and mystery. The gesture and the fan have reappeared throughout history in different forms, evolving and adapting with each appearance. The emotional charge of this motif—the interplay of concealment and revelation—continues to engage viewers, tapping into our deep-seated fascination with hidden meanings and the power of suggestion.