White-Crested Black Polish, from the Prize and Game Chickens series (N20) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1891

Here is a lithograph of a White-Crested Black Polish rooster, part of Allen & Ginter's "Prize and Game Chickens" series, originally included in cigarette packs. These cards were produced in an era marked by rapid industrialization, urbanization, and shifting social structures. They reflect the late 19th-century fascination with classifying and categorizing the natural world, mirroring a broader cultural impulse to organize and understand the environment amidst rapid change. The series, while seemingly innocuous, raises questions about the role of commercial imagery in shaping perceptions of both nature and culture. The detailed depiction of the rooster, with its striking plumage, speaks to notions of value and status. The commodification of the animal, reduced to an image on a cigarette card, invites reflection on the relationship between consumerism, identity, and the natural world. The card offers a glimpse into the values and aesthetics of the time, inviting viewers to consider the historical context in which these images circulated and their role in constructing and reinforcing societal norms.