Red and Blue Macaw, from Birds of the Tropics series (N38) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes

Art Historical Context

Step into the vibrant world of 19th-century advertising with *Red and Blue Macaw* from the *Birds of the Tropics series (N38), by the pioneering tobacco company Allen & Ginter in 1889. These petite chromolithographs, measuring just 2 7/8 x 3 1/4 inches, were tucked into cigarette packs as collectible inserts, sparking a craze for trading cards among enthusiasts. Produced in collaboration with Philadelphia lithographers George S. & Sons, this card captures the exotic allure of tropical birds, turning everyday smoking into a gateway for armchair exploration. The medium—a commercial color lithograph—showcases the era's printing innovation. Chromolithography allowed for stunning, multi-layered colors on thin paper, mimicking hand-painted illustrations at mass scale. As ephemera, these cards were designed to be discarded yet endured as cherished artifacts, reflecting America's growing fascination with natural history amid imperialism and world's fairs. Today, housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Jefferson R. Burdick Collection, this piece highlights the intersection of commerce, art, and science. Burdick's gift preserves thousands of such cards, offering a window into Gilded Age culture where beauty met marketing. Spot the macaw's fiery reds and blues—a feathered jewel from a bygone promotional treasure trove!

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...