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

This is a Canada Goose, from the Game Birds series, created by Allen & Ginter for their Cigarette Brands. These cards were immensely popular in the late 19th century. They offer us a tiny window into the cultural values of the Gilded Age. The Game Birds series romanticizes nature, but does so through the lens of consumption. These images weren't made to celebrate wildlife, but rather to associate a sense of luxury and leisure with the act of smoking. The focus on game birds also alludes to a very gendered culture of hunting and sport, activities largely reserved for wealthy white men. There is also a clear class dimension, suggesting that only certain consumers could afford these kinds of pursuits. The Canada Goose, rendered here in exquisite detail, becomes a symbol of status and privilege, neatly packaged with every purchase. Think about how even simple images like this can reflect much larger social structures and norms.