Card Number 334, Von Oastan, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-3) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes 1880s

This small card was created by W. Duke, Sons & Co. around the turn of the century to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes. It's a photograph, printed on paper, which shows a woman named Von Oastan, likely an actress. The card is a direct artifact of mass production and the rise of consumer culture. Photography had become relatively accessible, but its application here is purely commercial, tied to the burgeoning tobacco industry. The company used images of actresses, and other celebrities to entice customers, embedding their product in a world of glamour. Consider the sheer volume of these cards that must have been produced, and the labor involved in their distribution. They were essentially disposable, yet now, each surviving card is a tiny window into the past, reminding us of the close link between art, commerce, and the everyday lives of people. By looking at the materials, and the context of its making, we can move beyond simple aesthetic appreciation, and see this card as a complex cultural artifact, reflecting the social and economic forces of its time.