Otter Hound, from the Dogs of the World series for Old Judge Cigarettes 1890

This small chromolithograph of an Otter Hound, part of the "Dogs of the World" series, was a promotional insert in Old Judge Cigarettes, likely made in America around the turn of the 20th century. At the time, collecting these cards was a popular hobby, reflecting a rising middle class with leisure time and disposable income. But beyond casual collecting, these cards reveal a society fascinated with classifying and categorizing the natural world, extending even to domesticated animals. The “Dogs of the World” series speaks to the Victorian era's passion for natural history and taxonomy, mirrored in the burgeoning fields of zoology and comparative anatomy. The commodification of animals through advertising also raises questions about our relationship with the environment and the increasing industrialization of everyday life. By studying cigarette cards, trade catalogs, and other ephemera, we gain insights into the social values and consumer culture that shaped the modern world. Ultimately, this seemingly simple image provides a window into a complex web of social, economic, and cultural forces.