Card 407, Gerster, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 1) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

This card, created by Allen & Ginter for Virginia Brights Cigarettes, is a small window into the world of celebrity endorsements and consumer culture. It's a photograph, mass-produced to be included in cigarette packs. The image is of Gerster, an actress, likely chosen to appeal to a broad audience, associating her fame with the brand. The material itself is thin, cheap paper stock, befitting its status as a promotional item, but it’s been carefully printed. The creation of this card speaks volumes about the rise of mass production and advertising during the late 19th century. Tobacco companies used such cards to boost sales, capitalizing on the popularity of actresses and other public figures. It is a potent reminder of how art and commerce have long been intertwined, and how even the most ephemeral objects can offer insights into the cultural values and economic forces of their time. This card, as a piece of popular ephemera, prompts us to consider how distinctions between art, craft, and commercial design become blurred.