Sun Bittern, from the Birds of the Tropics series (N5) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands 1889

"Sun Bittern" is a chromolithograph from the "Birds of the Tropics" series created by Allen & Ginter in 1889. These cards were distributed as trade cards for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes. This particular card features a detailed depiction of a sun bittern bird against a background of clouds and foliage. The intricate detail and vibrant colors characteristic of chromolithography are on full display in this piece, which is now housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The card offers a glimpse into the world of late 19th-century natural history illustration, capturing the beauty and complexity of a tropical bird in a format that was intended to be widely disseminated.