Great Blue Heron, from the Game Birds series (N40) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes

Art Historical Context

Step into the vibrant world of 19th-century advertising with *Great Blue Heron* from Allen & Ginter's Game Birds series (N40 a commercial color lithograph produced between 1888 and 1890. Allen & Ginter, a American tobacco company, inserted these small cards into cigarette packs to stiffen packaging and entice collectors. Measuring just 2 7/8 x 3 1/4 inches, this ephemera captures the majestic Great Blue Heron exquisite detail, showcasing its elegant form amid natural surroundings—a nod to the era's fascination with ornithology and outdoor sports. Chromolithography, the innovative printing technique used here, revolutionized mass-produced color imagery by layering vibrant inks to mimic hand-painted illustrations. This allowed for affordable, lifelike depictions that appealed to a broad audience, blending scientific accuracy with artistic appeal. Part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Jefferson R. Burdick Collection—a treasure trove of over 30,000 American cards—the piece highlights how everyday consumer products fueled a collecting craze. These cards not only promoted Allen & Ginter's brand but also educated the public on wildlife, reflecting Gilded Age values of nature appreciation and leisure. Today, they offer a glimpse into commercial art's role in shaping popular culture.

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...