Card Number 160, Sadie Martinot, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-1) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes 1880s

This is a promotional card for Cross Cut Cigarettes, made in the United States in the late nineteenth century. It features Sadie Martinot, a popular actress of the time, and it's part of a series of cards highlighting actors and actresses. The card provides a glimpse into the culture of celebrity and consumerism during this period. The commodification of fame through advertising became increasingly common. Notice how Martinot is presented: her refined dress and composed posture speak to the aspirational values of the era. The very act of collecting these cards speaks to the emerging leisure activities and collecting habits of the late 1800s. Understanding this image involves looking into the history of advertising, theater, and the social role of women. Through such resources we can interpret this card not just as a piece of advertising ephemera, but as a window into the values and structures of its time.