Card Number 588, Mrs. Roach, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-3) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes 1880s

This small card, made around 1900 by W. Duke, Sons & Co., is from the Actors and Actresses series, printed to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes. These cards were not fine art; they were commercial products, churned out in vast quantities. Consider the means of production. Photography was essential, allowing for realistic likenesses to be reproduced. The printing processes, likely involving lithography, meant that images could be replicated cheaply and at scale. Labor was also key. Countless hands would have been involved in the harvesting, curing, and processing of tobacco, as well as the design, printing, and packaging of these cards. The card’s value lies not in artistic skill, but in its ubiquity. These cards provide a fascinating insight into the social life of the late 19th century, offering a glimpse of the entertainment industry and the culture of smoking. It reminds us that the most meaningful objects are not always those made with precious materials or advanced techniques, but rather those that reflect the everyday lives of ordinary people.