Bob-o-link, from the Birds of America series (N37) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1888

"Bob-o-link", a chromolithograph from the "Birds of America" series, was created by Allen & Ginter in 1888 as a trade card for their brand of cigarettes. The card depicts a vibrantly colored Bobolink perched on a branch, its plumage rendered in intricate detail, against a background of delicate flowers. The design includes the Allen & Ginter logo and a border of intricate lace, typical of late-19th-century trade cards. This collectible piece exemplifies the era's fascination with natural history and the emerging practice of using chromolithography for mass-produced commercial printing. The card is part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection in New York City.