Carrier Pigeon, from the Birds of America series (N37) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1888

This is "Carrier Pigeon," a chromolithograph from Allen & Ginter's "Birds of America" series of trading cards. The image is a colorful and detailed depiction of a carrier pigeon, a breed known for its ability to deliver messages. This series of trading cards, which date back to 1888, were produced by Allen & Ginter, a Richmond, Virginia tobacco company, to promote their "Richmond Straight Cut No. 1" brand of cigarettes. The image shows the carrier pigeon standing on a grassy path, with a small cottage and a floral background. The card is small in size, meant to be collected and traded. The image is now part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection.