Marie Jansen, from the Actresses series (N246), Type 2, issued by Kinney Brothers to promote Sporting Extra Cigarettes
ca. 1890
Medium
Albumen photograph
Dimensions
Sheet: 3 1/16 × 2 7/8 in. (7.7 × 7.3 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
63.350.220.246.105
Tags
Art Historical Context
In the late 19th century, American tobacco companies like Kinney pioneered innovative marketing by inserting collectible cards into cigarette packs, transforming everyday smoking into a gateway for popular culture fandom. This small albumen photograph, *Marie Jansen, from theresses series (N246 Type 2*, issued 1890 to promote Extra Cigarettes, exemplifies trend. Featuring a profile portrait of the celebrated Broadway actress Marie Jansen—known for her roles ins and comedies—the card captures her poised elegance, inviting collectors to admire theater stars as glamorous icons. Printed on a mode...
About the Artist
Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company · 1869–2011
**Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company (1869–2011)** Founded around 1869 by Francis Sherwood Kinney in New York City, the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company quickly rose to prominence in the burgeoning American cigarette industry. Francis, a pioneering tobacco manufacturer, experimented with hand-rolled cigarettes using blends of Turkish and Virginia tobacco, scaling to mass production by employing Europ...