White Ibis, from the Game Birds series (N40) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1888 - 1890

This is White Ibis, a chromolithograph from the Game Birds series, made by Allen & Ginter Cigarettes. The card is a product of industrial printing techniques that blend artistry and advertising, demonstrating the interplay between commerce and culture in the late 19th century. The image is finely detailed, employing multiple layers of color to achieve a high level of realism and visual appeal. The chromolithographic process involved transferring a series of inked images from lithographic stones or metal plates onto paper, each plate adding a different color to the final print. The card was originally included in packs of cigarettes as a collectible item. The relatively low cost of production allowed for mass distribution, making art accessible to a broader audience. The act of collecting these cards became a popular pastime, driving demand and reflecting the era's burgeoning consumer culture. By appreciating the processes and context, we can understand how these works were more than just images; they were products of labor, embedded in the social fabric of their time.