Baltimore Oriole, from the Birds of America series (N37) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes

Art Historical Context

Step into the vibrant world of 19th-century American ephemera with *Baltimore Oriole, from the Birds of America series (N37) for Allen & Ginter Cig* (1888). Produced by the pioneering tobacco firm Allen & G, this petite commercial color lithograph (just 2 7/8 x 3 1/4 inches) was one of many collectible inserts tucked into cigarette packs. Drawing inspiration from John James Audubon's iconic *Birds of America the series captured the nation's fascination with natural history, transforming fine art ornithology into accessible, everyday treasures for smokers and collectors alike. Chromolithography, the medium here, revolutionized printing in the Gilded Age by enabling vivid, multi-color reproductions at scale—perfect for mass marketing. This technique layered inks to mimic paintings, making the oriole's striking black-and-orange plumage pop against its perch. As ephemera, these cards blurred lines between advertising, education, and hobby, fueling the explosive rise of trading card culture. Today, housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Jefferson R. Burdick Collection—a landmark gift of over 30,000 items—this tiny print highlights how commerce democratized beauty. It reminds us that art thrives not just in galleries, but in the pockets of everyday life.

About the Artist

Allen & Ginter

Allen & Ginter, the pioneering American tobacco firm based in Richmond, Virginia, emerged around 1880 from the partnership of John F. Allen and Lewis Ginter, evolving from Allen's earlier John F. Allen & Company. Allen retired in 1882, succeeded by John Pope, yet the brand endured under Ginter's leadership, employing over 1,100 workers—mostly women—for hand-rolled cigarettes by 1886. Ginter, a Dut...