Redstart, from the Birds of America series (N4) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands

Art Historical Context

Behold the vibrant *Redstart* from the *Birds America* series (N4), a delightful chromolithograph issued by the pioneering tobacco firm Allen & G in 1888. just 2¾ x 1½ inches, tiny gem was tucked into cigarette packs as a promotional trade card, sparking a collecting frenzy among Victorian enthusiasts. Part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Jefferson R. Burdick, it exemplifies ephemera—everyday printed matter now cherished for its cultural snapshot. Allen & Ginter revolutionized marketing in the late 19th century with their colorful series of cards featuring birds, animals, and sports figures, blending commerce with natural history education. This *Redstart*, depicting the American Redstart's striking black-and-orange plumage, draws inspiration from John James Audubon's iconic *Birds of America* but adapts it for mass appeal through commercial color lithography—a technique that layered vibrant inks for lifelike hues on a budget. These cards bridged art and advertising, making ornithological beauty accessible to the masses while fueling a hobby that predated modern trading cards. Today, they remind us how everyday objects captured the era's fascination with nature and novelty.

About the Artist

Allen & Ginter

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...