Rainbow Pitta, from Birds of the Tropics series (N38) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1889

This is "Rainbow Pitta," a chromolithograph from the "Birds of the Tropics" series, produced by Allen & Ginter for their cigarette packs. These cards, popular in the late 19th century, were designed to stiffen cigarette packs and promote collecting. But let’s consider the cultural context: these images encouraged a kind of armchair tourism, where people could imagine faraway lands and exotic creatures all the while eliding the realities of colonialism and environmental exploitation. The Rainbow Pitta, native to Southeast Asia and Australia, is presented here as a symbol of nature's beauty, yet its image also becomes a commodity, consumed alongside tobacco. What does it mean to flatten the rich diversity of these places into collectible cards, turning the natural world into a series of images divorced from their homes? As you look at this small card, think about the larger story it tells about desire, collecting, and our relationship to the world.