Chamois, from the Animals of the World series (T180), issued by Abdul Cigarettes

Art Historical Context

This charming small-scale print depicts a chamois, a nimble goat-antelope native to European mountain ranges, as part of the Animals of the World series issued by Abdul Cigarettes in 1881. Produced as a commercial color lithograph, the card measures just 2¾ by 1⅝ inches—perfect for slipping into cigarette packages. Such inserts were a popular marketing tool in the late nineteenth century, encouraging collectors to purchase more packs in hopes of completing thematic sets featuring animals, sports, or exotic locales. Color lithography allowed vibrant, affordable imagery to reach a wide audience, transforming everyday ephemera into miniature educational tools. The crisp registration and bright hues typical of the medium bring the chamois to life against a simple background, highlighting its distinctive horns and sure-footed stance. Today, this print resides in the Metropolitan Museum’s Burdick Collection, where it offers a glimpse into how commercial art once blended advertising, natural history, and popular collecting culture.

About the Artist

Abdul Cigarettes · 1881–1881

Abdul Cigarettes, an enigmatic American entity active solely in 1881, stands as a fascinating footnote in the history of commercial art, best known for producing vibrant chromolithograph trade cards inserted into cigarette packages as promotional inserts. Little is documented about its origins or personnel, suggesting it operated as a short-lived publishing venture rather than the work of a singul...