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

Art Historical Context

Step into the vibrant world of 19th-century ephemera with *The Impeyan Phe* from Allen & Ginter's *Birds of the Trop* series (N5), issued in 1889. Produced by the pioneering American tobacco company Allen & Ginter in collaboration with Philadelphia lithographers George S. Harris & Sons this tiny chromolithograph (just 2¾ x 1½ inches) was tucked into cigarette packs as a promotional collectible. These cards captivated smokers and collectors alike, fueling a craze for trading sets that depicted exotic wildlife from distant tropical realms, reflecting America's growing fascination with global exploration and natural history during the Gilded Age. The artwork showcases the striking Impeyan pheasant—also known as the Himalayan monal—with its iridescent plumage in vivid blues, greens, and golds, rendered through chromolithography. This innovative technique layered multiple lithographic stones with colored inks to achieve rich, photographic realism on a mass-produced scale, making fine art accessible to everyday audiences. Far from fine art galleries, these prints democratized beauty and education, blending commerce with ornithological wonder. Today, housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Jefferson R. Burdick Collection, this card highlights the cultural role of "trade cards" in American advertising history. Once disposable inserts, they now preserve a snapshot of Victorian-era tastes, imperialism's gaze on the tropics, and the pheasant's elusive splendor. A delightful glimpse into how even a cigarette sparked artistic delight!

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...