Crested Sparactes, from the Song Birds of the World series (N42) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1890

This is a card from the "Song Birds of the World" series, made by Allen & Ginter for their cigarettes, likely in the late 19th century. These cards were inserts in cigarette packs, a marketing strategy that also served to educate and entertain consumers. The "Crested Sparactes", as it was then known, is depicted in vibrant colors against a stylized landscape, typical of the chromolithographic printing popular at the time. The choice of birds as a subject is interesting; natural history was a widely appreciated area of knowledge, reflecting an era of exploration, scientific discovery, and a growing awareness of global biodiversity. However, the commercial context of this image cannot be ignored. Cigarette cards like these contributed to the normalization of smoking, especially among the emerging middle classes. To fully understand this image, we might explore the history of ornithology, advertising, and the social impact of tobacco use. Art is never created in a vacuum, it's always rooted in social and institutional contexts.