Pintail Duck, from the Game Birds series (N13) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands

Art Historical Context

Step into the vibrant world of 19th-century advertising with *Pintail Duck* from the *Game Birds* series (N13), by Allen & Ginter Cigarette Brands 1889. Produced collaboration with Philadelphia lithographers George S. Harris & Sons this petite commercial color lithograph (just 1½ x 2¾ inches) captures a majestic pintail duck amid delicate flowers, blending ornithological precision with decorative charm. Part of a popular set of collectible insert cards tucked into cigarette packs, it reflects the era's fusion of commerce and nature appreciation. Chromolithography, the medium here, was a groundbreaking technique that layered vibrant colors through multiple stone printing plates, enabling mass production of eye-catching images at low cost. This innovation made high-quality art accessible, fueling the trading card craze among smokers and collectors alike. Allen & Ginter pioneered such series in the 1880s, turning everyday vices into portals for education and hobbyist passion—birds like the pintail became stars, sparking interest in wildlife. Today, housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Jefferson R. Burdick Collection (a monumental gift of ephemera), this tiny print endures as a cultural artifact. It highlights how commerce democratized beauty, preserving fleeting moments of avian elegance for generations. (198 words)

About the Artist

Allen & Ginter|George S. Harris & Sons

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...