15 August 2013

Butterfly Girls



While perusing the New York Public Library’s online gallery, I stumbled upon a curious collection: a series of cigarette cards depicting flappers with butterfly wings. Produced by the British American Tobacco Company in 1928 they’re odd yet beautiful. Each of the 50 cards in the series features a different butterfly girl and a description about the particular butterfly on the back. 




I love the colours of the cards and the wonderful details: the Banded Soldier appears to be powdering her nose; the Death's Head Moth's gown would fit right in at a Paris nightclub. And look at the male butterflies checking out the Glanville Fritillary. Lovely.

To see all 50 of the cards, visit here.

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