European Otter, from the Animals of the World series (T180), issued by Abdul Cigarettes
1881
Medium
Commercial color lithograph
Dimensions
Sheet: 1 5/8 × 2 3/4 in. (4.2 × 7 cm)
Classification
Prints|Ephemera
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Jefferson R. Burdick Collection, Gift of Jefferson R. Burdick
Accession Number
63.350.246.180.16
Tags
Art Historical Context
Step into the whimsical world of 19th collectibles with *European Otter* from the *Animals of World* series (T), issued by Abdul Cig in 1881. This petite commercial color lithograph, measuring just 1 5/8 × 2 3/4 inches, captures the, playful form of the European otter (Lutra lutra) in vibrant hues, inviting viewers to admire one of nature's most agile swimmers amid Victorian-era fascination with global wildlife. Cigarette cards like this one exploded in popularity during the late 1800s as savvy tobacco companies bundled them into packs to boost sales and foster collecting hobbies. The T180 se...
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...