Zebra, from the Animals of the World series (T180), issued by Abdul Cigarettes

Art Historical Context

Step into the vibrant world of 19th-century ephemera with *Zebra, from the Animals of the series (T180)*, a delightful commercial color lithograph issued by Abdul Cigarettes in 1881. This tiny treasure, measuring just 1 5/8 × 2 3/4 inches, was one of many cards tucked into cigarette packs to captivate collectors and promote the brand. Part of a broader series showcasing global wildlife, it reflects the era's fascination with exotic animals, blending education with everyday commerce during the height of the British Empire's influence on popular culture. Chromolithography, the medium here, was a revolutionary printing technique that layered colors from lithographic stones to produce vivid, affordable images en masse—perfect for these pocket-sized inserts. The zebra's striking black-and-white stripes leap off the page, symbolizing the wild beauty of Africa's savannas to Victorian audiences who encountered such creatures mostly through books and zoos. As ephemera, these cards fueled a collecting craze, turning smokers into amateur naturalists. Today, this piece graces the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department, thanks to the Jefferson R. Burdick Collection. It reminds us how art infiltrated daily life, preserving a snapshot of 1880s curiosity and ingenuity in the unlikeliest of places.

About the Artist

Abdul Cigarettes · 1881–1881

Abdul Cigarettes, an enigmatic American entity active solely in 1881, stands as a fascinating footnote in the history of commercial art, best known for producing vibrant chromolithograph trade cards inserted into cigarette packages as promotional inserts. Little is documented about its origins or personnel, suggesting it operated as a short-lived publishing venture rather than the work of a singul...