Rail, from the Game Birds series (N13) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands 1889

This chromolithograph, “Rail”, was created in 1889 by Allen & Ginter as part of their “Game Birds” series of collectible cards that were given away with packs of cigarettes. The image shows a rail, a type of wading bird, perched on its nest in a bed of tall green reeds. The artwork displays a characteristic of the genre, a stylized, almost cartoonish depiction of the subject. This illustrative style was common for trade cards in the late 19th century. The vibrant colors and detailed imagery make this card both visually appealing and informative. This "Rail" card is currently part of the collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.