Charlotte Ray, from the Actresses series (N245) issued by Kinney Brothers to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes 1890

This is a promotional card for Sweet Caporal Cigarettes, featuring an actress named Charlotte Ray. It was created by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company in the late nineteenth century. Trading cards like this one offer a glimpse into the social life of the Gilded Age in the United States. They reflect the growing popularity of mass media and consumer culture, which was transforming American society at the time. These cards were designed to be collected and traded, and they often featured images of celebrities, athletes, and other popular figures. The fact that actresses were used to promote tobacco products suggests that these women were seen as symbols of glamour and sophistication. But it also reminds us of the way in which their images were being commodified and circulated for commercial gain. To understand this image better, we might consult archives of advertising history and theater ephemera. These sources can help us to understand the role of celebrity culture in the shaping of American social life.