Albatross, from the Birds of America series (N37) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1888

Editor: Here we have “Albatross,” a print from the Birds of America series, created around 1888 by Allen & Ginter. It's a charming little piece, rather like a snapshot in time. What immediately strikes me is the unexpected composition – the bird scene jostling with those vibrant red flowers and the cigarette ad! It feels very...piecemeal. What do you see in this piece? Curator: It’s interesting that you picked up on the fragmentation. The collision of images certainly jumps out. I find this an odd duck, quite literally! This belongs to a fascinating intersection of art, commerce, and natural history. The Albatross itself, somewhat clumsily perched, appears within its naturalistic vignette; simultaneously, the advertisement pulls from the stylistic ideals of Japonisme, doesn't it? That pattern behind the poppy feels straight out of a Japanese print. And this clash isn't a bug, but a feature. Editor: A feature? So the disjunction is…intentional? Curator: Absolutely. These cards were designed to be collected, traded, and, crucially, to catch the eye. Imagine these slipped into cigarette packs; suddenly you have this exotic bird sharing space with your smoke break. What's being advertised here isn’t just tobacco, it's a world of curated curiosities. Editor: So, in a way, the card itself becomes a tiny museum, blending art with a bit of brand storytelling. It’s quite forward-thinking for its time. Curator: Exactly! And thinking about this object allows us to appreciate an everyday artifact infused with surprisingly sophisticated aesthetic strategies. Plus, cigarette cards! Who knew, right? Editor: I will never look at a cigarette card the same way. Thank you!