After the flags, here we have the eagle, the symbol of America, and a magnificent creature it is.
The set was issued by Allen & Ginter, of Richmond, Virginia and printed by colour lithography. It was also issued as smaller cards, just showing the eagle, with a white border around its oblong golden frame. You can see one, the card of the snowbird, for we used it as our Card of the Day - 6 December 2023.
Burdick gives our cards an imperial measurement of 3 x 3 1/4 inches, and says that "All show the corresponding small card design with other pictorial matter added."
Both the sets were issued prior to 1890. Burdick tells us that they were "issued abroad with horizontal backs".but I am not quite sure what this means. And in the 1967 edition of the Burdick Catalogue he values them at 10 cents per card
We also have two more related sets.
A36-64 are listed in our original World Tobacco Issues Index as being "The "Special Issues" issued partially in the U.S.A. and elsewhere including some in U.K.. All small size (variable) and unnumbered, unless otherwise stated." They were branded for "Virginia Brights", but though the cards are the same, they are not titled "Birds of America". And I cant find these in our updated World Tobacco Issues index.
And A400-615 : USA/A3 is a printed album of ten pages plus covers, but the word album does not do it justice, for it is in the shape of a gilded cage and the cards are printed on the pages. This measures 225 x 153 m/m. In the 1967 edition, (on page 81, to save you hunting), he values these at just $4 each.