Partridge Cochin Cock, from the Prize and Game Chickens series (N20) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1891

This chromolithograph of a Partridge Cochin Cock was produced in the United States as a cigarette card for Allen & Ginter. While at first glance it may appear to be a simple depiction of poultry, consider the institutional history and intended audience. Cigarette cards like this one were popular advertising tools in the late 19th century. Allen & Ginter, a prominent tobacco company, distributed these cards within their cigarette packs to stiffen the packaging and entice consumers. The "Prize and Game Chickens" series reflects the Victorian era's fascination with selective breeding and animal husbandry. The image promotes an ideal, showcasing the Cochin breed’s distinctive plumage and form. The card also hints at social stratification. Collecting these cards became a popular hobby, with collectors often trading and organizing them into albums, indicative of a leisure class with disposable income. These seemingly simple images, therefore, offer insights into the economic structures and cultural values of their time. Delving into trade catalogs, agricultural journals, and social histories can help us understand the broader context in which they were produced and consumed.