American Tapir, from the Animals of the World series (T180), issued by Abdul Cigarettes 1881

Editor: So, here we have "American Tapir" from the Animals of the World series, made in 1881 by Abdul Cigarettes. It's a colored-pencil drawing, reproduced as a print. I’m struck by the somewhat awkward, almost comical, portrayal of this animal in its habitat. How do we read this image historically? Curator: Well, it’s crucial to remember this was a mass-produced collectible item. The ‘Animals of the World’ series speaks to a late 19th-century fascination with natural history fueled by colonialism and global trade. The imagery served a dual purpose: it educated the public and promoted the exotic appeal of these creatures, but was it also a way to tacitly reinforce power dynamics, given that Abdul Cigarettes was a prominent company at the time? Editor: That's fascinating! I hadn’t considered the brand connection to colonial structures of the era. So, by distributing these images, the company arguably shaped popular perception and indirectly validated those power dynamics. Curator: Exactly. Think about the role museums played then too. Were they displaying animals from all over the world as specimens in the name of scientific progress, creating a parallel narrative about empire and dominance? These images likely mirrored that sentiment. Do you think people would view the same image today differently? Editor: Oh, absolutely! Our understanding of animal rights, environmental conservation, and colonial legacies is so different now. We are much more critical. It is amazing to see how commercial items can teach us a lot about societal attitudes during specific periods. Curator: Agreed. Analyzing these visuals gives us valuable insight into how institutions and popular culture influenced knowledge and power back then. Now, looking back at our present, these types of discussion become critical.