Baltimore Oriole, from the Birds of America series (N4) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands 1888

This is a chromolithograph of a Baltimore Oriole from the Birds of America series, made for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes. The Baltimore oriole, perched amidst blooming flowers, carries a rich tapestry of meaning. Birds, throughout history, have served as potent symbols of freedom and spiritual transcendence. In ancient Roman augury, a bird's flight foretold the future. In Christianity, birds embody the soul. This oriole, therefore, is more than just a bird. It acts as a potent symbol of aspiration and deliverance. Note how the vibrant orange of the oriole contrasts with its black head and wings, and how it appears again in the surrounding blossoms. These are the colors of fire and sun, of life's vital force, recurring across cultures from ancient Egypt to the Renaissance. In alchemy, orange signifies transformation, a bridge between the mundane and the sublime. As we gaze upon this unassuming little card, we are reminded of the cyclical nature of symbols, constantly resurfacing and evolving, bearing echoes of the past in the present.