Card Number 136, Mary Anderson, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-4) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cameo Cigarettes 1880s

Card Number 136, Mary Anderson, from the Actors and Actresses series was produced by W. Duke, Sons & Co. around the turn of the century as a promotional item for Cameo Cigarettes. These cards were a product of their time, reflecting an era deeply entrenched in the commercialization of celebrity and the performance of gender. Mary Anderson, a celebrated actress, is captured here in profile, adorned with an elaborate feathered hat. These cards functioned within a consumer culture that often idealized and commodified women. They were collected and traded, transforming actresses into objects of public consumption and desire. The card’s small size belies its complex role in shaping perceptions of beauty, success, and the performative aspects of femininity. The image invites us to reflect on the dynamics between performer and audience, and the ways in which fame can both empower and objectify. It’s a poignant reminder of how deeply intertwined art, commerce, and identity can become.