Catbird, from the Birds of America series (N4) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands 1888

This is a Catbird print, part of the Birds of America series, made for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes. These cards, distributed with cigarettes, weren't just about selling tobacco, they reflected a particular vision of America. The series romanticized nature, while eliding the realities of industrialization and westward expansion that threatened those very landscapes. Note how the catbird is carefully positioned within a decorative frame, surrounded by idealized flora. This controlled image contrasts sharply with the messy realities of the natural world, but also with the commodification of nature through industrialization. Consider the implications of placing images of birds within the context of a product like cigarettes. It speaks to the complicated relationship between consumer culture, nature, and identity in late 19th-century America. The card becomes a token of both pleasure and a subtle assertion of cultural values.