Malay Cock, from the Prize and Game Chickens series (N20) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1891

Editor: Here we have "Malay Cock," a colored-pencil drawing and print made in 1891 by Allen & Ginter, as part of their Prize and Game Chickens series. There’s something rather proud and defiant about the way it stands. What do you make of this piece? Curator: It’s like looking into a portal to a bygone era, isn't it? Beyond just being a depiction of a rooster, consider that these were essentially advertisements slipped into cigarette packs! The late 19th century had this insatiable appetite for collecting. I suspect the naive art style gives it a folksy charm; it makes the Malay Cock feel simultaneously regal and relatable. Doesn't the stippled background and the rendering style remind you of printed ephemera, like botanical prints or even some scientific illustrations of the time? Editor: That's a great point, I hadn't considered its original purpose as essentially advertising! And I definitely see what you mean about scientific illustrations; it's precise in its details but also idealized. Curator: Precisely. Now, I wonder if people then admired this bird for its inherent beauty or the symbolism it carried. Think about it—the cock often represented virility, pride, even aggression. Was Allen & Ginter trying to associate these qualities with their brand? Editor: That’s really interesting. So, beyond just being a picture of a chicken, it’s carrying all these layers of meaning and marketing intention. Curator: Indeed. And these little cards served as miniature windows into the world, introducing folks to various breeds, achievements, and, ultimately, consumer desires. It makes you think, doesn’t it, about what seemingly insignificant things reveal about us over time? Editor: It certainly does! I'll never look at trading cards the same way again.