Card 276, French Twins, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 1) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

This is Card 276, "French Twins," from the Actors and Actresses series for Virginia Brights Cigarettes, made by Allen & Ginter in Richmond, Virginia. These cards were collected and traded in the late 19th century. What does it mean for performances and performers to be used to sell a product? The image is a signifier of the culture in which it was made, as well as an instrument for shaping it. Cigarette cards such as this one helped to fuel the emerging culture of celebrity at this time, in which the theater, music, and other forms of public performance became intertwined with commercial culture. These tobacco cards provide a fascinating glimpse into the social and cultural landscape of late 19th-century America. Understanding them requires drawing on diverse resources, from theater histories to studies of advertising and consumer culture.