American Coot, from the Game Birds series (N40) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1888 - 1890

This ‘American Coot’ card was produced as part of a series of cigarette inserts, printed by the company Allen and Ginter. These cards were chromolithographs, a popular printing technique that used multiple lithographic stones, each applying a different color to create a vibrant image. The surface has a pleasingly tactile feel. The chromolithographic technique allowed for the mass production of colorful and detailed images. These cards, like many promotional items, blur the boundaries between art, advertising, and industrial production. Consider the social context: Allen & Ginter was one of the first major tobacco companies to use promotional cards, tapping into a growing consumer culture. The imagery, focused on natural history, was designed to appeal to a broad audience, associating their brand with education and sophistication. The production process was labor-intensive, requiring skilled artisans to create the lithographic stones and operate the printing presses. The card provides us with a glimpse into the methods of mass visual communication, and its relationship with consumerism in the late 19th century.