Card Number 309, Clarabel De Puyster, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-3) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes 1880s

This is a promotional card for Cross Cut Cigarettes, produced in the United States by W. Duke, Sons & Co. at the turn of the 20th century. The card features a photographic portrait of Clarabel De Puyster, an actress, presented in a classicizing style. The card isn’t just selling cigarettes; it's selling an image of sophistication and allure, linking the consumption of tobacco with the glamour of the theater and celebrity culture. The choice of an actress as the face of the product speaks to the increasing visibility and social mobility of women in the public sphere at this time. Such cards were collected and traded, creating a social network around consumption. To fully understand this image, one needs to delve into advertising history, the social history of tobacco use, and the role of women in American society at the time. By examining trade publications, census data, and other period documents, we can better grasp how advertising shapes cultural values.