Yellow-head, from the Song Birds of the World series (N42) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1890

This is 'Yellow-head, from the Song Birds of the World series', a lithograph made for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes. These cards were inserted into cigarette packs, part of a marketing strategy during a time when smoking was becoming increasingly popular. What's striking is the intersection of nature, commerce, and cultural values. Birds, often symbols of freedom and beauty, are here reduced to a collectible, commodified object. The series reflects a 19th-century fascination with categorizing the natural world, aligning with colonialist tendencies to classify and control. The visual representation of the bird itself invites us to consider how nature is perceived through a Western lens. We might question what this card tells us about the relationship between humans and the natural world. Are we passive observers, or active participants in the bird’s changing environment? The card is a cultural artifact reflecting a time of industrial expansion, and shifting societal attitudes towards nature.