Card Number 341, Irene Varonia, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-5) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cameo Cigarettes 1880s

Card Number 341, Irene Varonia, was issued by Duke Sons & Co. around the turn of the century as an advertisement for Cameo Cigarettes. These cards, collected by smokers, offer insight into the social values of the Gilded Age. The image features Irene Varonia, an actress, in costume. Her confident gaze and ornate attire present her as a figure of spectacle and aspiration. These cards, distributed widely, played a role in shaping public perceptions of beauty, success, and celebrity culture. At a time when the advertising industry was still in its infancy, these cards were a new and effective way to reach consumers. A deeper understanding of the social and institutional histories that produced this image requires a broader consideration of the material culture of the 1890s: the development of mass media, the rise of consumerism, and the changing role of women in the public sphere. The historian’s role is to interpret these cards and use them to reveal the ideologies of the era.