Card 682, Miss Hall, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 1) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

This small card featuring Miss Hall was produced in the United States as a promotional item for Virginia Brights Cigarettes. These cards were very popular in the late 19th century and offer a window into the social and cultural values of the time. Actresses, like Miss Hall, were among the celebrities featured, reflecting the growing popularity of theater and the rise of a celebrity culture. Note that this image has been reproduced and circulated. The card's function as a cigarette insert reveals the pervasive presence of tobacco advertising, and the ways companies were using celebrity endorsements to promote their products. What were the implications of this? It also hints at the developing relationship between commerce, entertainment, and image production. To fully understand the cultural significance of these cards, we can turn to archives of popular culture and business history. Only by understanding the institutions that underpin the art, and the culture from which it came, can we properly contextualize it.