Adelaide Neilson, from the Actresses and Celebrities series (N60, Type 2) promoting Little Beauties Cigarettes for Allen & Ginter brand tobacco products 1887

This card, from a series by Allen & Ginter, presents actress Adelaide Neilson in costume. Note the striking turban, a symbol laden with historical weight. The turban, seen here adorning Neilson, has traversed cultures and centuries. Originating in the Middle East, it signified nobility and religious piety. Yet, its adoption in European fashion, especially in theatrical contexts, reveals a fascinating transformation. What was once a marker of sacred identity becomes a symbol of exoticism and theatrical flair. The very act of placing the turban on Neilson’s head imbues her with an aura of mystery, pulling from collective memories. This image is not merely a portrait but a vessel carrying echoes of history. The turban serves as a potent reminder of the cultural fluidity inherent in images, constantly reshaped by the currents of time and memory.