Agnes Huntington, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 8) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

This is Agnes Huntington, from the Actors and Actresses series, made by Allen & Ginter as an advertisement for Virginia Brights Cigarettes. Produced using albumen silver print on paper, the photograph's sepia tones and soft focus lend it a romantic, almost dreamlike quality. These cards were essentially trade bait, inserted into cigarette packs to encourage repeat purchases. But this wasn't just about selling more tobacco; it was about associating the product with glamour, beauty, and success. The choice of albumen print, a process that yields a smooth, detailed surface, speaks to the care taken in crafting these tiny images. Consider the labor involved. From cultivating tobacco, to the skilled work of photography and printing, to the factory workers inserting these cards into packs, this object is a material record of a complex industrial system. The focus on celebrity culture and mass production underscores the intertwining of art, commerce, and the burgeoning consumer culture of the late 19th century.