Card Number 16, Hellen Geyson, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-2) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes 1880s

This small card, featuring actress Hellen Geyson, was printed by W. Duke, Sons & Co. sometime around 1900 to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes. The photographic image, mass-produced through industrial printing, captures Geyson in costume. The sepia tone gives it an antique feel, yet the production itself speaks to modern methods. It is printed on thin card stock, a cheap material meant for wide distribution, not lasting value. Cards like these were not fine art, but rather ephemeral objects, designed to be collected and traded. Their existence depended on the booming tobacco industry, and the marketing strategies used to expand its consumer base. The very disposability of the card reflects broader patterns of consumption and waste in an industrial age. Ultimately, understanding this card means recognizing the complex relationship between art, industry, and the everyday lives of people at the turn of the 20th century.