Card Number 309, Clarabel De Puyster, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-3) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes 1880s

This is a promotional card made by W. Duke, Sons & Co. in the late 19th or early 20th century, featuring Clarabel De Puyster to advertise Cross Cut Cigarettes. These cards were produced and distributed during an era of rapid industrialization and the rise of consumer culture in the United States. Tobacco companies sought innovative ways to market their products. The cards often featured popular actresses, athletes, and other celebrities, linking them to the aspirational lifestyle associated with leisure and success. By using the image of a refined woman, smoking was being marketed to new social classes, who would have previously been excluded. The format is reminiscent of the older tradition of the calling card, a mark of social distinction. Further research into the archives of advertising history would help us understand the social and cultural role of these cards within a society undergoing enormous change.