Miss Phyllis, from the Actresses series (N246), Type 1, issued by Kinney Brothers to promote Sporting Extra Cigarettes 1888 - 1892

This is "Miss Phyllis," a promotional card produced by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company, part of a larger series of actresses used to market Sporting Extra Cigarettes. Consider the historical context: mass media was burgeoning, and the commodification of images, especially of women, was becoming increasingly prevalent. “Miss Phyllis”, like other actresses featured, was essentially being packaged and sold alongside tobacco, reinforcing the connections between femininity, consumerism, and desire. The image presents a narrow view of feminine identity, where a woman’s value is tied to her physical appearance and public persona. This format reduces individuals to objects of consumption, blurring the lines between art, advertising, and identity. What does it mean to see a person reduced to a name and a face, circulated as a collectible item? “Miss Phyllis” offers a glimpse into the historical construction of fame and the gendered dynamics of early advertising.