Card Number 186, Lillian Russell, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-2) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes 1880s

This is Card Number 186, Lillian Russell, an advertising card made by W. Duke, Sons & Co. to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes. These cards, popular in the late 19th century in America, reveal a fascinating intersection of commerce, celebrity culture, and the burgeoning advertising industry. Lillian Russell, a celebrated actress and singer, epitomized the Gilded Age ideal of feminine beauty and talent. Her image, mass-produced on these cards, served to both promote cigarettes and elevate Russell to an almost mythical status. The institutional history of advertising is important here. This card reflects a strategic effort by tobacco companies to associate their products with glamour and aspiration. The cards were designed to be collected and traded, embedding the brand within social networks. To understand this card fully, we need to look into the archives of advertising history. The image reminds us that art and culture are always shaped by their social and economic contexts.