Actress wearing wide-brimmed hat lined with green folded fabric, from Stars of the Stage, Third Series (N131) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Honest Long Cut Tobacco 1891 - 1892

This trade card, printed by W. Duke, Sons & Co., promotes "Honest Long Cut Tobacco." It's one of many from the "Stars of the Stage" series, dating back to the late 19th century. These cards weren’t made using traditional artistic materials but were mass-produced, relying on photography and printing technology to create numerous identical images. It is an early form of advertisement, relying on popular personalities to influence consumers. The actress's wide-brimmed hat, lined with green folded fabric, becomes a focal point. The fabric's texture, the way it catches the light, and its fashionable design all contribute to the card's visual appeal. The card speaks volumes about the social context of its time. It reflects the rise of consumer culture and the use of celebrity endorsements in advertising. The manufacturing process, with its division of labor and mechanical reproduction, also speaks to wider issues of labor, politics, and consumption. These cards blur the lines between art, craft, and commercialism, offering valuable insights into the culture of the late 19th century.