Peccary, from Quadrupeds series (N41) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1890

This lithograph of a peccary, a kind of wild pig, was made by Allen & Ginter as part of a series of collectible cards packaged with their cigarettes. The image is not high art; it’s inexpensive commercial printing. Yet, the card’s very disposability is part of the point. Consider the lithographic process: many impressions could be taken from a single stone, allowing for mass production and distribution. This was perfect for advertising, but also encouraged collecting. In this context, even a humble peccary could become a valuable possession. The card transforms the animal into a commodity, feeding the desires of consumers within an expanding market. So, it’s not just about the image itself. It’s about the way images circulate within a system of mass production and consumption. This little card opens a window onto that world.