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

This 'Eagle' trading card was produced by Allen & Ginter, a Richmond, Virginia tobacco company, as part of their 'Birds of America' series. These cards, included in cigarette packs, were designed to promote brand loyalty but also served as a form of popular education. The eagle, a symbol deeply entwined with American identity, is presented here in a way that reflects late 19th-century sensibilities. The idealized, almost romantic depiction of the eagle speaks to a broader cultural moment, one of increasing industrialization and urbanization in the United States, and of growing Imperialism. The institutional context is crucial: the tobacco industry, the rise of mass media, and the construction of national identity all intersect here. To fully understand this image, we might turn to business history, studies of advertising, and the social history of the Gilded Age. This would help us to interpret not just the image, but also its role in shaping popular perceptions of the natural world and national identity.