Actress wearing sailor costume, from the Actresses series (N664) promoting Old Fashion Fine Cut Tobacco

Art Historical Context

Step into the vibrant world of late 19th-century advertising with this charming albumen photograph from the Museum of Art's Jefferson R. Burdick Collection Titled *Actress wearing sailor costume from the Actresses seriesN664) promoting Old Fashion Fine Cut Tobacco this tiny 3 3/8 × 2-inch portrait captures an unidentified actress striking a playful pose in a nautical sailor outfit. Produced between 1888 and 1890, it exemplifies the ephemera of the era—small, collectible images designed to boost tobacco sales. en prints, the dominant photographic medium from the 1850s to 1890s, were made by coating paper with egg whites for a glossy surface that yielded sharp, richly toned images from glass negatives. Ideal for mass-produced trade cards like this one, they turned photography into affordable promotional art. Tobacco companies, including those issuing the N664 series, popularized actresses as glamorous endorsers, blending celebrity culture with consumer marketing during America's Gilded Age. This piece highlights the cultural fascination with stage stars and their role in shaping modern advertising. Women in costume evoked fantasy and allure, making everyday products irresistible. Donated by collector Jefferson R. Burdick, it preserves a slice of ephemera that once fluttered from cigarette packs, offering a window into how images of empowered performers fueled commerce and collecting.