Daisy Murdoch, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 1) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

This is a promotional card of Daisy Murdoch, from the Actors and Actresses series for Virginia Brights Cigarettes, produced by Allen & Ginter. These cards reflect the 19th-century’s fascination with celebrity and the burgeoning advertising industry. Murdoch is captured in a seemingly candid, pastoral pose. Her bare feet and simple clothing suggest an innocence, yet the card was explicitly designed to sell cigarettes, intertwining notions of purity with commercial appeal. The representation of women, particularly actresses, in such promotional material raises questions about gender roles, as women’s images were often used to market products. This conflation of artistry, fame, and commodity speaks to the complex ways in which identity was constructed and consumed during this period. These cards offer us a glimpse into the cultural values and social dynamics of a bygone era.