Card Number 202, Flora Wood, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-5) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cameo Cigarettes 1880s

This card was produced by W. Duke, Sons & Co. around the turn of the 20th century using photographic and printing processes, to promote their Cameo Cigarettes. The card features actress Flora Wood posed elegantly beside a classical sculpture. The sepia-toned image, printed on thin card stock, speaks to the industrialization of image-making at the time. Photography had become increasingly accessible, and mass production techniques allowed for the creation of these collectible cards, inserting celebrity culture into everyday life. The material itself is humble, yet the printing quality speaks to the era's advancements in reproductive technologies, and popular culture. The card's purpose was fundamentally commercial; these small cards were included in cigarette packs to encourage collecting and brand loyalty. The fact that these were given away with cigarettes speaks to the scale of production and consumption at the time, and also to the use of celebrity endorsements to promote products. Ultimately, this small card reveals the intersection of art, industry, and consumerism, blurring the boundaries between high culture and mass-produced ephemera.