Red-headed Bunting, from the Song Birds of the World series (N23) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1890

This chromolithograph of a Red-headed Bunting comes from a series made for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes. Produced in the United States during the late 19th century, this card exemplifies the intersection of commerce, art, and the era's fascination with natural history. The rise of consumer culture saw tobacco companies including collectible cards with their products, a marketing strategy designed to boost sales through repeat purchases and collectibility. The Song Birds of the World series reflects a broader 19th-century trend of classifying and documenting the natural world, fueled by scientific exploration and colonial expansion. The image itself, while seemingly benign, participated in a culture of collecting and categorizing that mirrored imperial ambitions. These cards were tools in shaping public perceptions of the world and fostered a sense of national pride and dominance. To understand this image fully, one can research the history of tobacco advertising, the rise of chromolithography, and the cultural context of 19th-century natural history.