Card Number 321, Miss Cortelyou, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-1) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes 1880s

Card Number 321, Miss Cortelyou, was produced by W. Duke, Sons & Co. around the turn of the 20th century as a promotional item for Cross Cut Cigarettes. These cards, trading on the growing popularity of actresses, speak to the commodification of female identity during this period. Miss Cortelyou, likely a stage performer, is presented here in what appears to be a military-inspired costume. She wears a tight-fitting jacket, knee-high boots and a cap, while her hand gestures towards her face, almost as if she is smoking. These cards blur the lines between the objectification of women and their agency as performers. On one hand, Miss Cortelyou’s image is being used to sell cigarettes, perpetuating a consumer culture that often reduces individuals to mere commodities. Yet, in a time when opportunities for women were limited, the stage offered a space for expression and visibility. This card captures the complex negotiation of identity, performance, and commerce that defined the lives of actresses like Miss Cortelyou.