May Hanley, Corsair Co., from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 6) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

This is May Hanley of the Corsair Co., printed by Allen & Ginter as part of a series of cigarette cards. These cards, made using industrial printing processes, were essentially miniature billboards included in packs of Virginia Brights Cigarettes. What’s interesting here is the interplay between the image of refinement – Hanley’s poised gaze and elaborate costume – and its context as a mass-produced promotional item. The card’s small size speaks to the economies of scale involved; printed by the thousands, they were designed to be collected and traded. The sepia tone, a photographic process made reproducible, further underscores its status as a product of industrial capitalism. Consider the labor involved: from the cultivation of tobacco to the skilled work of typesetting and printing, and even to the labor of performers like Hanley, packaged and distributed as entertainment. These cards blur the boundaries between art, advertising, and everyday life, prompting us to consider the social and economic forces that shape our visual world.