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

This is a promotional card for Allen & Ginter cigarettes, part of their “Game Birds” series. The card features a Canada goose above a scene of an indigenous hunter poised with a bow and arrow. Produced in the late 19th century in the United States, these cards were inserted into cigarette packs as a marketing tactic. The company sought to promote not only their brand but also a particular vision of American identity, one that celebrated natural resources, hunting culture, and – problematically – romanticized depictions of indigenous peoples. The imagery on this card reflects both an interest in and an ambivalence about American expansion and indigenous culture. The hunter, dressed in stereotypical clothing, represents a vanishing way of life, while the goose symbolizes the abundance of the land. To truly understand this card, we can consult advertising history, Native American studies, and ornithological texts. Only then can we understand its role in shaping perceptions of American identity and the environment during a period of significant social and ecological change.