Sacchi, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 1) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

This card, made by Allen & Ginter for Virginia Brights Cigarettes, is from a series featuring actors and actresses. It’s a photograph, mass-produced and included in cigarette packs. The sepia tone results from the developing process used at the time, which involved chemical reactions with the paper. The card is thin, almost ephemeral, reflecting its intended disposability. But consider the labor involved: from cultivating and curing the tobacco, to printing the cards, to the distribution networks that got these into the hands of consumers. These cards weren't conceived as high art, but as marketing tools, meant to be collected and traded. Yet, they offer a glimpse into the social life of the time. They reflect a burgeoning consumer culture, where even everyday habits like smoking could be elevated by association with celebrity. So, next time you light up, remember the complex web of production and consumption that connects us to objects like this one. The humble cigarette card, a window into the past.