Card Number 225, Mitchell, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-1) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes 1880s

This small card, dating from around 1900, was printed by W. Duke, Sons & Co. as a promotional item for Cross Cut Cigarettes. It's made using photographic and chromolithographic processes – a relatively new technology at the time, allowing for mass production of colorful images. The card features an actress named Mitchell, posing with an oar, presumably for a theatrical role. The image is sepia-toned, a result of the developing process, and overprinted with the brand name. Consider the sheer scale of production: millions of these cards were printed, distributed in cigarette packs. The labor involved in tobacco farming, cigarette manufacturing, printing, and distribution, highlights the vast machinery of capitalism at the turn of the century. The card itself, flimsy yet durable, speaks to the ephemerality of advertising, and the relentless drive to commodify even leisure and entertainment. It's a reminder that even seemingly innocuous objects can be deeply embedded in systems of labor, consumption, and social life. We can see how these materials are a medium for popular culture, connecting the stage, sports, and everyday habits.