Card Number 233, Miss Powell, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-2) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes 1880s

Curator: This card, titled "Card Number 233, Miss Powell," is from the Actors and Actresses series, issued by W. Duke Sons & Co. in the 1880s as a promotion for Cross Cut Cigarettes. Editor: The sepia tones give it this old-timey glamour, right? Like a tintype you'd find tucked away in grandma's attic. She’s giving the camera all the sass and sparkle—I dig it. Curator: Indeed. These cards are fascinating relics. Produced during a time of rapid industrialization and urbanization, they offer a glimpse into the burgeoning celebrity culture of the late 19th century and the commodification of the performing arts. Editor: Okay, Professor, but also, check out her pose. One leg up, sassy expression... it’s almost… cheeky. What was acceptable then would be quite different than now, but in some ways… Curator: Well, her attire might have indeed stirred contemporary discussions around propriety and representation. The card’s composition raises questions about how women entertainers navigated visibility and power within restrictive societal norms. Editor: Right, right. It’s business and pleasure...or maybe more complicated. It's hard not to think about it, how much control she really had. You know? As a "celebrity," or even as just a performer at the time. Curator: Absolutely. While seemingly straightforward promotional items, cards like this invite critical analysis of the intertwined relationships between entertainment, advertising, and the construction of identity—particularly for women—during this transformative period in American history. They served as conduits for both admiration and scrutiny. Editor: Thinking about it now… this whole thing… cigarette cards of actresses? It’s almost like… a tiny trading card that whispers stories of a completely different age… maybe where a lot of our stuff even *starts*. Curator: That's well said, a perfect entry point into understanding not just the past but how it continues to resonate, perhaps unexpectedly, today.