Opossum, from the Quadrupeds series (N21) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes

Art Historical Context

Step into the whimsical world of 19th advertising with *Opossum, from the Quadrupeds seriesN21) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes (1890). This commercial color lithograph, just 2¾ x 1½ inches, captures the marsupial's curious snout and furry form in vivid detail. Produced by the innovative tobacco firm Allen & G, with designs attributed to Lindner, Eddy & Claus it belongs to a popular series of animal trading cards inserted into cigarette packs to entice collectors and stiffen packaging. Chromolithography, the era's breakthrough in color printing, enabled mass production of these eye-catching ephemera, blending artistry with commerce. Allen & Ginter's cards popularized the genre, educating the public on wildlife—from exotic beasts to everyday critters like the opossum—while boosting brand loyalty amid the Gilded Age's consumer boom. Part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Jefferson R. Burdick Collection, this print highlights how everyday objects became cultural treasures. Today, it reminds us of trading cards' enduring appeal, evolving from promotional gimmicks into cherished artifacts that bridged art, science, and smoking culture. A tiny window into Victorian fascination with the natural world!

About the Artist

Allen & Ginter|Lindner, Eddy & Claus

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...