Card Number 179, Lizzie Howe, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-5) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cameo Cigarettes 1880s

Card Number 179, Lizzie Howe, is a promotional card for Cameo Cigarettes made by W. Duke, Sons & Co. This card is part of a series featuring actors and actresses, reflecting the burgeoning celebrity culture of the late 19th century, where performers were among the most recognizable faces in society. Cards like these offer a window into the marketing tactics of the time, but also into the idealized image of women. Here, Howe is posed to accentuate her beauty, conforming to societal standards of femininity. Howe's attire could be seen to challenge the strictures around female presentation; yet, it also reinforces the commodification of female sexuality for a mass audience. While seemingly benign, this card reminds us how advertising, entertainment, and societal expectations converged to shape perceptions of identity. It is a subtle yet powerful reminder of the complexities of gender, performance, and consumerism in the late 19th century.