Porcupine, from the Quadrupeds series (N21) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1890

This small chromolithograph of a porcupine comes from a series of collectible cards produced by Allen & Ginter Cigarettes. These cards, popular in the late 19th century, were designed to stiffen cigarette packs and entice consumers with vibrant images. Produced in America, this card reflects a growing interest in natural history and the exotic, as well as the expansion of consumer culture. The porcupine, rendered with careful detail, becomes a commodity, packaged with tobacco and circulated widely. How does this shift the understanding of the animal itself? Is it an invitation to marvel at nature, or a symbol of commercial exploitation? To understand this image, we might look to the advertising and marketing strategies of the time, and to the history of tobacco as a global commodity. We can ask: What role did images play in shaping consumer desires and cultural attitudes toward the natural world?