Margaret Dall in The Importance of Being Earnest, from the Actresses series (T1), distributed by the American Tobacco Co. to promote Turkish Trophies Cigarettes

Art Historical Context

Step into the glittering world of turn-of-the-century theater with this vibrant commercial color lithograph from 1900, featuring actress Margaret Dall as a character in Oscar Wilde's witty comedy *The Importance of Being Earnest*. Produced by the American Company and designed by Frederick Moladoreiegle, this print is part of the "Actresses series (1)," small cards distributed inside Turkish Trophies Cigarette packs to entice collectors and smokers alike. At just 8¼ x 6½ inches, these ephemera were everyday promotions that captured the allure of stage stars, blending portraiture with bold adver...

About the Artist

American Tobacco Company|Frederick Moladore Spiegle

**American Tobacco Company (1890–1911)** Founded on January 31, 1890, in Durham, North Carolina, by James Buchanan Duke, the American Tobacco Company emerged from the consolidation of five major U.S. tobacco manufacturers: W. Duke & Sons, Allen & Ginter, Goodwin & Company, W.S. Kimball & Co., and Kinney Brothers. Under Duke's aggressive leadership, it rapidly achieved monopoly status, controlling...