Rose-breasted Wood Robin, from the Song Birds of the World series (N23) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes

Art Historical Context

Step into the vibrant world of 19th-century ephemera with *Rose-breasted Wood Robin a charming chromolithograph from the *Song Birds of the World* series (N23), issued by Allen & Ginter Cigarettes in 1890. Produced by the skilled lithographers George S. Harris & Sons, this petite card—measuring just 2¾ x 1½ inches—was designed as a collectible insert in cigarette packs, capitalizing on the era's booming tobacco trade and public fascination with natural history. Chromolithography, the medium here, revolutionized commercial printing by layering vibrant colors through multiple stone plates, yielding lifelike depictions of the rose-breasted wood robin's plumage and perky pose at a fraction of traditional painting costs. These cards blended artistry with marketing genius, educating smokers on global avian species while fostering a collecting craze among Victorians enthralled by ornithology and exploration. Today, housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Jefferson R. Burdick Collection, this ephemera gem highlights how everyday objects captured scientific wonder and commercial savvy, bridging art, science, and consumer culture in Gilded Age America. A tiny portal to a feathered symphony!

About the Artist

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

American, Richmond, Virginia|American, Philadelphia