Card Number 24, Hastings, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-4) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cameo Cigarettes 1880s

This card, from the late 19th century, was made by W. Duke, Sons & Co. as a promotional item for Cameo Cigarettes. It is a photograph printed on cardstock, a relatively new technology at the time, which allowed for mass production and distribution. The image itself, of an actress named Hastings, is carefully posed and lit. It is intended to evoke a sense of glamour and sophistication. However, it's the card itself as an object that is most interesting. It represents a shift in consumer culture, where images of celebrities were used to sell products. The card would have been included in packs of cigarettes. This was a marketing strategy designed to create brand loyalty and encourage repeat purchases. It’s also interesting to consider the labor involved in both the production of the cigarettes and the cards themselves. These were mass-produced items, made possible by industrialization and the exploitation of workers. By looking at the material and the way it was made, we can see how this seemingly simple card is actually a complex reflection of its time. It speaks to the rise of consumer culture, the power of celebrity, and the changing nature of work in the industrial age.