Starling, from the Birds of America series (N4) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands
1888
Medium
Commercial color lithograph
Dimensions
Sheet: 2 3/4 x 1 1/2 in. (7 x 3.8 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
63.350.201.4.32
Tags
Art Historical Context
This charming chromolithograph of a starling is a gem from the "Birds of America" seriesN4), issued by Allen & Ginter cigarette company in 1888 Produced as collectible inserts for cigarette packs, these tiny cards—measuring just 2¾ x 1½ inches—were part of a marketing boom in late 19th-century America. Allen & Ginter, pioneers in the tobacco trade card craze, drew inspiration from John James Audubon's iconic ornithological illustrations, transforming fine art into accessible ephemera that captivated collectors young and old. The medium, a commercial color lithograph, showcases the era's chrom...
About the Artist
Allen & Ginter
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...