Swordfish, from Fish from American Waters series (N39) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes

Art Historical Context

Step into the vibrant world of 19th-century advertising with *Swordfish* from the *Fish from American Waters* series (N39), produced in 1889 by lithographers Lindner, Eddy & Claus for the Allen & Ginter Cigarette Company. This petite commercial color lithograph, measuring just 2 7/8 x 3 1/4 inches, captures the sleek power of the swordfish against an oceanic backdrop, part of a popular set inserted into cigarette packs to entice collectors and promote the brand. Chromolithography, the medium here, revolutionized mass printing, allowing vivid colors and intricate details to be reproduced affordably on thin cards. Allen & Ginter pioneered these "trade cards" in the 1880s, blending education with commerce—depicting American fish species to spark interest in natural history amid a collecting frenzy. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Jefferson R. Burdick Collection, this ephemera exemplifies how everyday objects became cultural treasures. Today, it reminds us of lithography's role in democratizing art, turning a marketing gimmick into a window on Gilded Age fascination with wildlife and the sea. A tiny marvel of precision and color!

About the Artist

Lindner, Eddy & Claus|Allen & Ginter (American|American) · | – |

American, Richmond, Virginia|American, New York