Horned Screamer, from the Birds of the Tropics series (N5) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands 1889

This is “Horned Screamer” from the Birds of the Tropics series (N5) made for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes brands. Small cards like this one offer a glimpse into the cultural landscape of the late 19th century. Originally included in cigarette packs, these cards were designed to entice consumers. They also reflect the era's fascination with categorizing and collecting, akin to assembling a natural history encyclopedia. The images also reveal a colonial gaze towards the tropics, presenting exotic wildlife as objects of curiosity and consumption. The "Horned Screamer," depicted with meticulous detail, becomes a symbol of this dynamic between commerce, science, and colonial attitudes. The seemingly innocent image carries layers of meaning, inviting us to reflect on our relationship with the natural world and the historical forces that shape our understanding of it.