Canada Grouse, from the Game Birds series (N40) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes

Art Historical Context

Behold the vibrant *Canada Grouse* from Allen & Ginter's * Birds* series (N), a delightful chromolithograph produced between 1888 and 1890. This petite card, measuring just 2⅞ × 3¼ inches, captures the majestic Canada grouse in exquisite detail against a naturalistic backdrop, showcasing the bird's intricate plumage and alert posture. Issued as inserts in Allen & Ginter cigarette packs, these cards were part of a beloved 19th-century tradition of tobacco trade cards, sparking a collecting frenzy among enthusiasts of all ages. Printed using commercial color lithography—a groundbreaking technique that layered vibrant hues through multiple stone plates—these works democratized high-quality color printing. Allen & Ginter, pioneers in the American tobacco industry, leveraged this innovation to elevate advertising into collectible art, blending commerce with ornithological fascination. The realistic rendering reflects the era's growing interest in natural history, influenced by Audubon-style illustrations. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Jefferson R. Burdick Collection, this ephemera highlights how everyday objects bridged art, science, and popular culture. Imagine Victorian children trading these gems at school or hunters pinning them as trophies—a testament to their enduring charm in celebrating North America's wildlife.

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...