Pitta, from the Birds of the Tropics series (N5) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands

Art Historical Context

Step into the vibrant world of 19th-century collecting with *Pitta, from the of the Tropics seriesN5)*, a delightful chromolithograph produced in 1889 by Allen & Ginter in collaboration with George S. & Sons. This tiny gem, measuring just 2 3/4 x 1 1/2 inches, was one of many collectible cards tucked into cigarette packs by the pioneering tobacco company. Allen & Ginter revolutionized marketing by including these colorful inserts, sparking a craze for trading cards that educated enthusiasts on exotic wildlife like the strikingly patterned pitta bird from tropical regions. Crafted as a commercial color lithograph—a cutting-edge printing technique of the era—this ephemera showcases the precision of chromolithography, layering vibrant hues to mimic nature's palette with remarkable detail. Though diminutive, its bold depiction captures the bird's iridescent feathers, blending scientific accuracy with artistic flair. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department, it forms part of the renowned Jefferson R. Burdick Collection, celebrating everyday objects turned treasures. These cards hold cultural significance as early examples of mass-produced visual education, bridging commerce and natural history. They fueled public fascination with global biodiversity during an age of exploration, reminding us how a simple cigarette insert could inspire wonder in Victorian parlors.

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...