Florence Baker, Corsair Co./ Fannie Batchelder/ Clara Davenport/ Marion Blanchard, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 4) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

This is a lithograph trading card of four actresses from the 1880s, made by Allen and Ginter for Virginia Brights Cigarettes. The image captures the visual codes of celebrity at the time, with each actress carefully posed and presented as a desirable figure. Tobacco cards like these were instrumental in shaping popular culture and advertising in America at the time. They served as a marketing strategy to boost cigarette sales, while simultaneously creating a visual archive of popular performers. The actresses' fame became intertwined with the consumption of tobacco, reflecting the prevailing social norms and economic structures of the era. To understand this card better, we need to consider the role of advertising in shaping celebrity culture and the ways in which women were represented in popular media. We also need to research the history of Allen and Ginter and the broader context of the tobacco industry in the late 19th century. By doing so, we can gain a deeper understanding of the social and institutional forces that shaped the production and reception of this artwork.