Tiger, 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
63.350.246.180.26
Tags
Art Historical Context
Step into the vibrant world of 19th-century ephemera with *Tiger, from the Animals of the World series (T180)*, a diminutive yet striking commercial color lithograph issued by Cigarettes in 188. Measuring just 15/8 × 2 3/4 inches, this pocket-sized print was designed as an insert card tucked into cigarette packs, transforming everyday tobacco products into collectible treasures. Part of a popular series showcasing global wildlife, it captures the tiger's fierce majesty, reflecting Victorian fascination with exotic animals amid expanding empires and zoological discoveries. Chromolithography, t...
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...