Chinese Bulbul, from the Song Birds of the World series (N42) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1890

This 'Chinese Bulbul' card was produced by Allen & Ginter, as part of a series included in their cigarette packs. It’s made with chromolithography, a printing technique that uses multiple stone plates to apply different colors. The process begins with an artist creating a separate drawing for each color. These drawings are then transferred onto limestone blocks, which are treated to accept ink only in the areas that will be printed. Each block is inked and pressed onto paper, one after the other, to build up the full-color image. The result is a vibrant, detailed image. The popularity of chromolithography in the late 19th century was closely linked to the rise of mass consumer culture. It allowed for the cheap production of colorful, eye-catching images that could be used in advertising, trade cards like this one, and other commercial applications. This image isn’t just a picture of a bird; it's a window into the era of industrial expansion and mass consumerism. These small cards offer insight into the intersection of art, commerce, and society.