Brent Goose, from the Game Birds series (N13) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands

Art Historical Context

Step into the vibrant world of 19th advertising with *Brent Goose* from Allen & Ginter's Game Birds series (N13 a tiny commercial color lithograph produced in 1889. Issued as collectible inserts in cigarette packs by the pioneering tobacco company Allen & Ginter, these cards captivated smokers and enthusiasts alike, turning everyday purchases into treasures. Printed by George S. Harris & Sons, this1 1/2 x2 3/4-inch card depicts the elegant Brent Goose—a migratory waterfowl known for its sleek gray plumage and distinctive white neck patch—in vivid, lifelike detail. The medium of chromolithography was revolutionary here, enabling mass production of richly hued images from multiple lithographic stones, each inked in a different color. This technique democratized art, blending scientific natural history illustration with commercial appeal during the Gilded Age boom in ephemera. Far from mere gimmicks, these cards fueled a collecting craze, educating the public on wildlife while subtly promoting the brand. Today, housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Jefferson R. Burdick Collection—a landmark gift of over 30,000 American cards—this ephemera highlights how everyday objects bridged art, commerce, and nature. A delightful glimpse into Victorian-era hobbies, it reminds us how a simple goose could spark joy and obsession.

About the Artist

Allen & Ginter|George S. Harris & Sons

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...