New Zealand Parrot, from the Birds of the Tropics series (N5) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands 1889

This is a chromolithograph of a New Zealand Parrot, made as a promotional card for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes. These cards were inserted into cigarette packs in the late 19th century, a period when consumer culture was rapidly expanding. The image presents the parrot as an exotic commodity, part of a larger trend of Western fascination with, and often exploitation of, the natural world. The card is a window into the cultural values of the time, reflecting attitudes toward trade, empire, and the natural world. Made in the United States, the image exoticizes the bird, distancing it from its native habitat. We can see the influences of American commercialism and nascent advertising strategies. Researching the Allen & Ginter company, its marketing tactics, and the broader context of the tobacco industry can shed light on the social and economic forces that shaped this small but telling image.