Card Number 159, Lydia Thompson, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-1) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes 1880s

This is Card Number 159, a photograph of Lydia Thompson, from the Actors and Actresses series, printed by W. Duke Sons & Co. to advertise Cross Cut Cigarettes. Made in the United States between 1870 and 1920, it belongs to a tradition of commercial imagery that often reflected and reinforced social norms. Here, the theatrical pose and elaborate costume of Lydia Thompson create a spectacle designed to catch the eye and associate the cigarettes with glamour and allure. This kind of advertising played a significant role in shaping public perceptions, particularly around gender and performance. For a deeper understanding, one could research the history of advertising, the career of Lydia Thompson, and the cultural context of the late 19th-century American theater. Considering its context, this card reveals the intersection of entertainment, commerce, and social values.