Card Number 365, Florence Baker, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-5) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cameo Cigarettes 1880s

This is Card Number 365, Florence Baker, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-5), made by W. Duke, Sons & Co. to promote Cameo Cigarettes, sometime between 1870 and 1920 in the United States. The image shows Florence Baker, presumably an actress, in costume. It’s interesting to note that the institutions of theatre and advertising intertwine here, subtly promoting not only the actress but also the tobacco industry through this collectible card inserted into cigarette packs. Such ephemera provide insights into the cultural values of the time, particularly the roles of women in entertainment and advertising. The card participates in the objectification of women but also documents the rise of celebrity culture and the commercialization of leisure. To understand this artwork, we can explore archival resources like theatre programs, census records, and advertising ephemera to contextualize its social and economic background. The meaning of this art lies in its historical and institutional contexts.