1888 Allen & Ginter N25 “Wild Animals of the World”: 

In the late 19th century, long before baseball cards dominated the hobby, cigarette companies were busy tucking beautifully illustrated cards into their packs to entice customers. Among the most striking of these early issues is the 1888 Allen & Ginter N25 “Wild Animals of the World” set — a compact, 50-card glimpse into the natural world as imagined through Victorian-era artistry.

This set remains a favorite among collectors for one simple reason: it’s gorgeous.

A Window Into a Distant Natural World

What makes the N25 set so compelling is how it captures the spirit of discovery from that era. In the 1880s, exotic animals felt almost mythical. Most people would never see a lion, a crocodile, or even a wolf in person. These cards were a passport to far-off continents, bringing wild species right into the hands of everyday smokers.

Each card features a full-color lithograph depicting an animal in its natural environment — sometimes accurately, sometimes creatively embellished with the flair typical of Victorian illustration. The scenes are vibrant: tigers in thick jungle brush, bears on snowy cliffs, elk in golden meadows. You can practically feel the illustrator trying to balance scientific detail with artistic drama.

Why Collectors Still Love the N25 Set

1. The Artwork Is the Soul of the Set

The hallmark of Allen & Ginter’s cards is their artwork, and N25 is arguably one of their finest efforts. The cards are small, but the detail is rich — sharp lines, soft shading, expressive poses. Even well-loved, low-grade copies retain that classic, hand-drawn warmth.

2. A Manageable but Satisfying Checklist

At 50 cards, the set is large enough to feel rewarding but small enough to realistically complete. That’s a big reason it attracts both new and experienced pre-war collectors. You can chase individual favorites or patiently build toward a full run.

3. Broad Appeal Beyond Card Collectors

Wildlife lovers, art enthusiasts, natural history buffs — this set has something for everyone. You don’t need to know a thing about tobacco cards to appreciate the visual charm of a bear dragging a salmon from a river or a panther perched on a tree limb.

4. A Snapshot of 19th-Century Imagination

Not every animal depiction is scientifically accurate. Some feel slightly stylized or dramatized. Yet that’s part of the magic — these cards blend natural history with the era’s sense of adventure and storytelling.

Design & Production Notes

• Size: Standard for tobacco cards of the period, modest and display-friendly.
  
  

• Printing: Multi-color chromolithography, producing vivid tones that have held up surprisingly well over 135 years.
  
  

• Backs: Typically feature simple text advertising Allen & Ginter’s cigarettes — no stats, no trivia, no gimmicks. Just clean, classic branding.
  
  

The simplicity of the backs emphasizes the artwork on the front, which was always meant to be the centerpiece.

Rarity and Collecting Today

Individually, the cards aren’t impossibly rare, but finding sharp, clean examples can be a challenge. Corners soften, colors fade, and the thin stock is prone to wear. Even so, the market remains accessible, and collectors appreciate how you can enjoy these cards at almost any budget level.

High-grade specimens, especially of popular animals (tiger, lion, bear, elephant), command strong prices. But even lower-grade examples display well and retain tremendous vintage charm.

Why This Set Still Feels Alive

The Allen & Ginter N25 series has a timeless quality. It doesn’t rely on a famous athlete, a political figure, or a celebrity whose relevance might fade. Instead, it celebrates something universal: the fascination humans have always had with the creatures that share our planet.

More than a century later, these cards still spark that same curiosity. And in a hobby where so much attention stays glued to modern parallels, autographs, and chrome finishes, the N25 set stands as a reminder of what got collectors excited in the first place — beautiful art, tangible history, and stories preserved in cardboard.

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