The Banded Aracari Toucan, from the Birds of the Tropics series (N5) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands 1889

Curator: I find myself drawn to the vibrant energy radiating from this piece. The bright colors and flattened perspective are quite striking. Editor: Indeed! This is an 1889 lithograph titled "The Banded Aracari Toucan" from the Birds of the Tropics series by Allen & Ginter. What’s fascinating is the context – these were trading cards included in cigarette packs. Imagine the cross-section of society consuming and collecting these. Curator: Trading cards? I'm interested in that application. It reduces both image and bird to commodities to be exchanged. But even so, look at the lithographic process. The detail, achieved through those means and its original purpose, speaks volumes about late 19th century printing capabilities, but also tobacco advertising. Editor: Precisely. The exoticism played into colonial power fantasies. Think about the material trade routes involved to bring tobacco here in the first place and the commodification of wildlife imagery like this as advertising… Curator: I agree that the inherent power dynamics cannot be ignored. What I see is a piece designed for mass production. Editor: Beyond the political implications, this image reflects shifts in consumer culture during the late 19th century. Cigarettes were becoming more widely available, and branding played a critical role. These cards are miniature advertisements aimed at increasing sales. This card, and others like it, functioned as visual tools for both sales and for shaping perceptions around the product. It’s fascinating how this image taps into not just a visual archive, but socio-economic histories of taste and value in the era. Curator: It highlights how value and taste are inextricably linked to the physical means of production and capital flow. The vibrant colours almost mask its deeper historical narratives, so being able to view through a contemporary lens really helps bring that home. Editor: Right. I walk away reflecting how seemingly benign objects can encode multifaceted social narratives about labour and trade. Curator: And I'm reminded of how close observation and process examination can offer deeper insight than more traditional analyses.