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

This chromolithograph, "American Snake Bird", is part of the "Game Birds" series of trading cards produced by Allen & Ginter for their Richmond Straight Cut No. 1 Cigarettes. The card features a vibrant depiction of the bird perched on a branch, with a background scene of a lake and a small cottage. The elaborate border of the card utilizes gold and intricate patterns. This card, and other cards in the series, were given away with packs of cigarettes, effectively acting as early forms of marketing, or "collectibles". The card is now housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.