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

This chromolithograph depicts a Gnu, a large African antelope, from the "Quadrupeds" series of trading cards commissioned by Allen & Ginter for their cigarette brand in 1890. The detailed illustration features a brown Gnu with a distinctive white tail and a wide, forward-facing stance. The background features a landscape with trees and a horizon line, suggestive of its natural habitat. This card, now part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art collection, exemplifies the 19th-century fascination with natural history and its popularization through collectible items.