Isabella Coe, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-8) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Duke Cigarettes 1890 - 1895

This photograph of Isabella Coe was printed around the turn of the century by Duke Sons & Co. as one of a series of collectible cards distributed with their cigarettes. The image itself is simple: a portrait of the actress, posed in classical style. But the card is the thing. These were printed using photomechanical processes, which allowed for mass production. Think of the amount of labor involved, not only in the tobacco fields, but also in the factories where these cards were churned out. The images, too, played a role in a capitalist system, turning performers like Coe into commodities, available for consumption along with the cigarettes. The card itself, though small, connected many points in a vast network of production, labor, and consumer desire. So, next time you light up, consider the complex systems that brought that little pleasure to your hand.