Card Number 111, Miss Ellis, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-4) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cameo Cigarettes 1880s

Card Number 111, Miss Ellis, is a promotional print made by W. Duke, Sons & Co. as part of an Actors and Actresses series to promote Cameo Cigarettes. These cards emerged during a time of burgeoning consumer culture. As new industries rose so did new forms of advertising, including the use of collectible cards featuring popular actresses, singers, and dancers. The mass production of images facilitated the distribution of idealized representations of beauty and success, but it is worth noting that the actresses and performers depicted were also laborers, whose livelihoods depended on their image. The question arises: to what extent did the performer have agency over their image? These cards offer a glimpse into the representation of women in the late 19th century, and prompts us to consider the relationship between celebrity, labor, and commercialism during this transformative period.