Card Number 766, Theo, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-7) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Duke Cigarettes 1880s

This small card, produced around the turn of the century by W. Duke, Sons & Co., promotes Duke Cigarettes through an image of an actress named Theo. These cards were not primarily intended as art, but as commercial ephemera distributed with cigarette packs. We see here the intersection of consumer culture with the burgeoning celebrity of stage actresses. The “N145-7” series suggests the scale of this enterprise – imagine the industrial processes required to produce millions of these cards, each a tiny advertisement for Duke's product. Consider, too, the social dynamics at play: Tobacco companies sought to associate their products with glamour and beauty, leveraging the fame of actresses to enhance the appeal of their brand. Understanding this image requires attention to the economic forces that shaped its production. Through careful study of archival materials such as business records, newspapers, and theater programs, we can uncover the complex relationships between art, commerce, and celebrity in the late 19th century.