Marguerite, Paris, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 1) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

Curator: The sepia tone gives this Allen & Ginter cigarette card a charming, antique feel. The subject is titled "Marguerite, Paris, from the Actors and Actresses series," dating from around 1885 to 1891. Editor: It does look rather faded and delicate, doesn’t it? Seeing it reminds me how ephemeral celebrity truly is, preserved here only as a marketing tool for cigarettes. Curator: Precisely! It is so interesting to observe how Allen & Ginter, and tobacco companies generally, commodified imagery of actresses for promotional means. Editor: Makes you think about how stardom functioned back then. I'd be interested to know if these actresses consented to having their image splashed on something as consumable as cigarettes, especially knowing the risks and dangers associated with smoking! Was it purely an exploitative practice? Curator: That's a sharp question. It pushes us to consider the contracts in play. Also, consider the role this card would play within consumer culture— were the cards considered valuable or disposable objects? Editor: Thinking about value and materials, it looks as though the card’s made with pretty standard paper stock; likely mass produced. It wasn’t intended to be particularly precious but just to be part of the buying experience. Curator: Yes. Allen & Ginter’s "Actors and Actresses" series featured collectible cards within cigarette packs. Editor: Fascinating, a literal transaction that merges entertainment, social habits and the distribution of portraiture in the late 19th century. Curator: These cigarette cards offered everyday people a glimpse into the lives and likenesses of performers of the era. They acted as accessible, democratized, modes for cultural exposure. Editor: Right. I find it interesting that photography, still relatively young at this time, was already being used in commercial applications so widely. Curator: So many social and material considerations emerge here! A brief material snapshot that speaks volumes about industry and the history of the popular image. Editor: Indeed, it's much more than just a small, faded picture. A fascinating lens through which we can consider society, commodification and material culture.