Daisy Murdoch, from the Actresses series (N245) issued by Kinney Brothers to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes 1890

This is a promotional trade card of Daisy Murdoch, from the Actresses series, made by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company. Produced in the United States, it was originally issued to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes. The card features a photograph of Murdoch in a costume, possibly for a theatrical production. She is dressed as cupid with wings and a bow and arrow. Trade cards like this reflect the intertwined histories of advertising, celebrity culture, and the popular stage in the late 19th century. Actresses were among the most recognizable figures of their day, and their images were used to sell a wide range of consumer products. The Kinney Brothers utilized these images to associate their brand with the glamour and allure of the theater. To understand this image, we might consult theater programs, advertising ephemera, and biographical materials about Daisy Murdoch and other actresses of the period. This gives us more insight into the social and economic contexts that gave rise to this form of commercial art.