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

This is a cigarette card featuring May Davenport, an actress of the late 19th century, made by Allen & Ginter of Richmond, Virginia. These cards, small in size, were inserted into cigarette packs, a marketing strategy that speaks to the pervasive role of tobacco in society. As we consider Davenport’s image, it’s crucial to recognize the historical context of the Gilded Age, a time of rapid industrialization and stark social inequalities. The card flattens Davenport into an object of consumption, mirroring the broader commodification of labor and identity during this period. The "Virginia Brights" branding reminds us of the history of racial capitalism, where tobacco plantations were sites of exploitation and enslavement. What does it mean to see Davenport, a woman in the public eye, used to sell cigarettes? Her image exists in the complex intersection of celebrity, gender, and consumer culture. The card invites us to consider the emotional weight of historical processes of commodification, identity formation, and the legacies of the Gilded Age.