Card Number 37, Miss Sadie Martinot, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-2) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes 1880s

This card of Miss Sadie Martinot was made by W. Duke, Sons & Co. sometime between 1870 and 1920. It was distributed to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes. These cards reflect the social conditions of the time, with consumer culture intertwined with celebrity and gender. Tobacco companies created these cards as promotional items, recognizing the appeal of popular actresses like Miss Martinot. The imagery constructs meaning through its visual codes: her hairstyle, clothing, and pose all signify a certain type of feminine ideal that would have resonated with consumers. The card subtly reinforces the idea that smoking Cross Cut Cigarettes is associated with the glamour and sophistication represented by Miss Martinot. For a deeper understanding, historians might turn to archives of advertising ephemera. Here they would explore the marketing strategies of tobacco companies. In this way we can reveal the complex interplay between commerce, celebrity, and the construction of identity.