Musk Ox, from the Quadrupeds series (N21) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1890

This chromolithograph of a musk ox comes from a series of collectible cards issued in the United States by Allen & Ginter, a tobacco company, during the late 19th century. At first glance, it's easy to see it as a simple image of wildlife, but these cards represent a fascinating intersection of commerce, culture, and emerging scientific interests. The late 1800s was a time of growing consumer culture, and companies like Allen & Ginter used these cards to promote their brands. The "Quadrupeds" series reflects a broader cultural fascination with natural history and exploration, at a time when the American West was being "discovered," mapped and exploited. To understand this image fully, we might consult advertising history archives, business records, and also scientific publications of the time. By understanding the context, we see how even a seemingly simple image like this reveals the social values and structures of its time.