Kittie Chase, from the Actors and Actresses series (N171) for Gypsy Queen Cigarettes
1886–90
Medium
Albumen photograph
Dimensions
sheet: 2 11/16 x 1 3/8 in. (6.9 x 3.5 cm)
Classification
Photographs|Ephemera
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Jefferson R. Burdick Collection, Gift of Jefferson R. Burdick
Accession Number
63.350.215.171.318
Tags
Art Historical Context
Step into the vibrant world of 19th-century theater with *Kittie Chase, the Actors and Actresses series (N171) for Gypsy Queen Cigarettes a diminutive albumen photograph produced by Goodwin & Company around 1886–90. This tiny card—measuring just 2 11/16 x 1 3/8 inches—was one of many inserted into cigarette packs as collectible trade cards, blending advertising savvy with celebrity culture. Goodwin & Company, a leading firm, capitalized on the era's theater craze, featuring stars like Kittie Chase to entice smokers and fans alike. The portrait captures Chase, a prominent actress, in a strikin...
About the Artist
Goodwin & Company · 1850–1950
**Goodwin & Company (ca. 1850–1950)** Goodwin & Company, originally established as E. Goodwin and Brother before the American Civil War, emerged as a prominent New York City-based tobacco manufacturer in the mid-19th century. Operating from the bustling heart of Manhattan, the firm built its reputation on popular cigarette brands such as Gypsy Queen and, most notably, Old Judge, which became syno...