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

This card of Jessie Beals, from the Actors and Actresses series, was made by Allen & Ginter for Virginia Brights Cigarettes. In the late 19th century, tobacco companies often included collectible cards like these in their cigarette packs. This particular card features Jessie Beals, likely an actress of the time, though she is not easily found in theater archives today. The image and the actress would have been carefully selected to appeal to a broad audience. Such cards were not just promotional tools; they offer insights into the social and cultural values of the time. By studying these cards, alongside theater programmes, reviews, and popular press of the period, we might reconstruct the cultural presence of figures like Jessie Beals. This reminds us that the meaning and significance of art are always embedded in specific social and institutional contexts.