Kingfisher, from the Birds of America series (N37) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1888

This is a chromolithograph from the *Birds of America* series, produced by Allen & Ginter in 1888. The series featured colorful illustrations of American birds, created to be given away with packs of Allen & Ginter cigarettes. This particular card depicts a kingfisher perched on a branch over a body of water. The image is rendered in a realistic style, with the bird's plumage and surrounding foliage shown in detail. The card is a prime example of 19th century commercial art used for advertising, in this case to promote Allen & Ginter's brand of cigarettes.