Festive Green Parrot, from Birds of the Tropics series (N38) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1889

This late nineteenth-century chromolithograph of a Festive Green Parrot was made by Allen & Ginter as a promotional insert for their cigarettes. Chromolithography was a relatively new printing technique at the time, involving the use of multiple lithographic stones, one for each color, to create vibrant, detailed images. The technique allowed for mass production, making colorful images accessible to a wider audience. The very fact that this card was included with cigarettes speaks to the changing landscape of consumer culture. Tobacco companies used these cards as a way to build brand loyalty, capitalizing on the appeal of exotic imagery. This little card, printed with the parrot, connects to global trade, consumerism, and the aesthetics of commercial appeal. So, next time you see a chromolithograph, consider not only the image itself but also the complex interplay of materials, making, and social context that contributed to its creation.