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

This is a ‘Woodcock’ trading card, part of the ‘Game Birds’ series, produced for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes, sometime in the late 19th century in the United States. This small chromolithograph depicts a Woodcock, the colors are vibrant and attention is given to the details of the bird's plumage. It’s a reminder of how consumer culture intersects with natural history. During this period, the expansion of industrial capitalism and the rise of mass media created new ways for companies to market their products. These cards were inserted into cigarette packs as a way to promote brand loyalty. The series reflects a growing interest in natural history and outdoor pursuits, particularly among the middle and upper classes. The imagery is part of a broader cultural phenomenon tied to the rise of consumerism and leisure activities. To understand this image, we might consider histories of advertising, print culture, and the relationship between commerce and popular knowledge in the Gilded Age. The meaning of such an image is always contingent on social and institutional contexts.