Maud Branscombe, from the Actresses and Celebrities series (N60, Type 2) promoting Little Beauties Cigarettes for Allen & Ginter brand tobacco products 1887

This card, featuring actress Maud Branscombe, was printed in the late 19th century as a promotional item for Allen & Ginter's Little Beauties Cigarettes. The company mass-produced these cards using a process called chromolithography, a method of printing color images from stone or metal plates. Unlike traditional portraits, which might be painted or sculpted, these cards were conceived for mass consumption. The photomechanical printing process allowed for the swift reproduction of Branscombe's image, binding it to the brand. The cards were inserted into cigarette packs, encouraging repeat purchases and brand loyalty. They transformed collecting into a widespread hobby and functioned as miniature billboards in consumers’ pockets. This image then, is not just a portrait, but a commodity, revealing the links between celebrity, commerce, and the burgeoning culture of consumption. It prompts us to reconsider the social life of images and the making of value in a rapidly industrializing world.