Card Number 197, Fay Templeton, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-2) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes 1880s

This is Card Number 197, Fay Templeton, a promotional card for Cross Cut Cigarettes by W. Duke, Sons & Co. from around the turn of the century. Here, we see the famed actress adorned in an elaborate costume with fringe. It is the headdress, however, that captures my eye. This feathered cap echoes ancient depictions of winged deities, figures that carry an emotional weight across time, embodying aspirations of transcendence and divinity. Such headdresses remind us of the winged helmets worn by figures in classical antiquity, like Hermes, which signified speed and the ability to traverse worlds. But observe the modern twist: instead of feathers symbolizing spiritual ascent, here they adorn a performer, hinting at the dizzying heights of fame and spectacle. The collective memory of ancient gods subtly merges with the modern cult of celebrity. This card, then, is not merely an advertisement but a complex layering of cultural symbols. It reveals how ancient motifs resurface, transformed and repurposed, engaging our subconscious fascination with power, beauty, and the eternal allure of the stage.