Card Number 262, Annie Pixley, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-1) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes 1880s

Card Number 262, Annie Pixley, is a promotional card from the Actors and Actresses series, made around 1888 by W. Duke, Sons & Co. to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes. These cards offer a fascinating glimpse into the cultural values of the late 19th century. Here, Annie Pixley, a popular actress, embodies the idealized image of femininity of the time: white, upper-class, and adorned in fashionable attire. Her positioning in this card underscores the intersections of celebrity, consumerism, and gender roles prevalent in this era. The popularity of actresses such as Pixley were used to market products, reinforcing the idea that purchasing power was linked to social status and attractiveness. Consider how Pixley's image, carefully crafted and disseminated, both reflected and shaped the aspirations of women in a rapidly changing society. It serves as a reminder of the complex ways in which identity, commerce, and representation intertwine.