So here we have a lovely snowy scene, just the sort of vision I would revel at through my kitchen window. Actually snow lovers ought to look a bit closer at nature sets, for the animals and birds are often displayed in their home ground, and often that involves snow and ice, being rendered most naturalistically.
Our set was issued almost a hundred and forty years ago, but look at the colours, they are still bright. Quite amazing, especially when compared with some of the modern images we produce on our printers and copiers, which soon fade away to almost nothingness.
This little bird, the snow-bird, seems to be regarded by Americans in the same way that we have embraced the robin as a little friend, popping over to say hello to anyone working near its territory. More learned details can be obtained at Audubon.org/Snowbird - and whilst you are there, do you also see a distinct similarity between our bird and his? Was this perhaps the original from which our artwork sprung?
The set was issued by Allen & Ginter, of Richmond, Virginia and was printed by colour lithography. In our World Tobacco Issues Indexes this set, and its nest-mate, appear in the first section of Allen & Ginter issues, the "Coloured Issues", described as "Small size approximately 70 x 3, large 83 x 72 m/m. The large size shows the corresponding small card design with other matter added." And we already used one of the larger cards as our Card of the Day - 6th of June 2022
Our set is described as
BIRDS OF AMERICA. Bkld (50). See also set A36-64
a) Small. Ref. USA/4
b) Large. Ref. USA/37
Now that A36-64 is actually a brand issue. It is listed in our original World Tobacco Issues Index as being one of "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. The birds are exactly the same, and the cards are unnumbered. If anyone knows more about this version, do let us know. Many thanks in advance.
As for the larger cards, Jefferson Burdick gives an imperial measurement of 3 x 3 1/4 inches for them in his Catalogue. You can see one of them, but only the front, at The Metropolitan Museum of Art/N37 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 another related set, listed as A400-615 : USA/A3. This 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 $4 each.