Card Number 80, Kiralfy Troupe, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-4) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cameo Cigarettes 1880s

This is Card Number 80, Kiralfy Troupe, one of the Actors and Actresses series, made by W. Duke, Sons & Co. in the late 19th century to promote Cameo Cigarettes. These cards reflect the cultural landscape of the time, intertwining entertainment with consumerism. The image presents a performer, likely from the Kiralfy troupe, in theatrical attire. It’s interesting to consider the role of performance and celebrity in shaping public desire. The Kiralfy Brothers were famous for staging large-scale spectacles. Here, an institutional connection arises; a tobacco firm uses the popularity of a theatrical group to market its cigarettes. The card itself becomes a social object, traded and collected, embedding the advertisement within everyday interactions. To fully understand such an image, we need to delve into the history of advertising and popular entertainment, exploring archives of theatrical productions, and advertisement history. We must examine the complex interplay between commerce, culture, and the construction of celebrity in the late 19th century.