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

This "American Ptarmigan," one of the Game Birds series, was made by Allen & Ginter for their cigarette packs. These small cards, printed using chromolithography, were a clever marketing strategy. Chromolithography allowed for mass production of colorful images. The process involved creating a separate stone for each color, then layering them to create a complete image. The Ptarmigan's feathers, the glint of light on the water, and the details of the boat with hunters – all made possible by this technique. Consider the context: these cards weren't just art, they were advertising. They speak to the rise of consumer culture and the industrial processes that fed it, using images of leisure and the natural world to sell a product. Though small, the card embodies significant shifts in labor, politics, and consumption in America.