Card Number 34, Annie Pixley, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-4) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cameo Cigarettes 1880s

This card featuring Annie Pixley was produced by W. Duke, Sons & Co. in the late 19th century as a promotional item for Cameo Cigarettes. It's part of a series that used images of actors and actresses to market tobacco products. This was a time of booming consumer culture in America, and the emerging advertising industry latched onto celebrity endorsements to boost sales. What better way to associate your brand with glamour and success than by featuring popular stage performers? Here, Annie Pixley, adorned in a fancy dress and elaborate feathered hat, embodies the aspirational image that Cameo Cigarettes wanted to project. To understand this card fully, we can delve into the history of advertising, the rise of celebrity culture, and even the social norms around smoking at the time. We can examine the Duke company’s business practices and its role in shaping the tobacco industry. Understanding the social and institutional context is vital for interpreting this seemingly simple image.