Painted Bunting, from the Song Birds of the World series (N23) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes

Art Historical Context

Step into the vibrant world of 19th-century marketing with this delightful *Painted Bunting card from the *Song Birds of the World* seriesN23), issued by & Ginter Cigarettes in 1890. Produced George S. Harris &, these tiny commercial colorographs—measuring just 2¾ x 1½ inches—were tucked into cigarette packs as collectible inserts, sparking a craze among enthusiasts. The Painted Bunting, a strikingly colorful North American bird with its rainbow plumage of blues, reds, and greens exemplifies the series' focus on exotic and native songbirds, blending education with promotion. Chromolithography, the medium here, was a breakthrough technique of the era, enabling mass-produced prints with vivid, multi-layered colors from stone-based plates. Allen & Ginter pioneered such ephemera, transforming everyday tobacco products into gateways for learning about nature. Today, preserved in The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Jefferson R. Burdick Collection, this card highlights how commercial art democratized beauty and knowledge, turning smokers into accidental ornithologists. Its classification as prints and ephemera underscores its dual role: fleeting advertising artifact and enduring cultural treasure, reminding us of lithography's power to capture nature's splendor in miniature.

About the Artist

George S. Harris & Sons|Allen & Ginter (American|American) · | – |

American, Richmond, Virginia|American, Philadelphia