Turnstone, from the Game Birds series (N13) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands 1889

"Turnstone," from the "Game Birds" series, is a chromolithograph produced in 1889 by Allen & Ginter for their cigarette cards. This small, meticulously detailed print, showcasing a turnstone bird in flight, is a charming example of the naturalist aesthetic popular in the late 19th century. The card is part of a larger set, each card featuring a different bird species. The card's simple design, highlighting the bird against a gradient background, is typical of the era's trade cards, often used for advertising purposes. Today, this card is housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, and offers a glimpse into a bygone era of natural history illustration.