Tiger, from the Animals of the World series (T180), issued by Abdul Cigarettes 1881

"Tiger" from the Animals of the World series was issued by Abdul Cigarettes, a company founded in 1881. These cards, which were included in cigarette packs, reflect early twentieth-century attitudes toward wildlife and global exploration. The image here captures a tiger, teeth bared, poised as if interrupted in its natural habitat. It is an intimate, albeit tense, glimpse into the animal's life, framed by the exoticism that fueled much of the colonial imagination. The ‘Animals of the World’ series speaks to the ways in which consumer culture was deeply entwined with the colonial project, fostering both curiosity about and a sense of dominion over the natural world. The tiger, a symbol of power and mystery, becomes a collectible, its image circulated and consumed. In our contemporary moment, it asks us to reflect on the complex relationship between commerce, representation, and the environment, and how our desires shape the world around us.