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

Art Historical Context

Step into the whimsical world of 19th-century ephemera with *Canada Lynx* from the *Animals of World* series (T), issued by Abdul Cig in 1881. This petite commercial color lithograph, just 1 5/8 × 2 3/4 inches, captures the fierce elegance of the Canada lynx in vivid detail—its tufted ears, thick fur, and piercing gaze rendered with the precision of chromolithography, a revolutionary printing technique that allowed for mass-produced, jewel-toned images at affordable prices. These cards were tucked into cigarette packs as clever marketing ploys during the Victorian era's collecting craze, enti...

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...