Life, 1898-02-17 · page 20 of 20
Life — February 17, 1898 — page 20: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is primarily a **full-page advertisement**, not political satire. It promotes The Prudential Insurance Company of America, highlighting their 1897 financial performance—assets of nearly $24 million, income of $15.5 million, and insurance in force of $363 million. The imagery is straightforward corporate branding: the Rock of Gibraltar (symbolizing stability and strength in insurance advertising of this era) and the company's Newark, New Jersey headquarters building. The text emphasizes Prudential's "unexcelled facilities," careful risk selection, and secure investment practices—standard insurance marketing language assuring customers of reliability. There is no satirical cartoon or political commentary here. The page functions as a business-focused advertisement targeting potential policyholders, emphasizing the company's growth and trustworthiness. This reflects late-19th-century advertising practices common in magazines like Life.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
February 17,188, THE PRUDENTIAL i897 ~) Made Magnificent Gains in Every Department of its Business Assets Increased to $23,984,569.72 Income Increased to $15,580,764.65 Surplus Increased to $5,240,118.36 Ky Insurance in Force \ Increased to ( $363,117,590.00 The ; Prudential ~ has unexcelled facilities for transacting a large business, Industrial and Ordinary. By careful selection of risks and care to re- tain its members, it has been enabled, year after year, to make substantial advance. Judicious investment of funds, careful hus- banding of resources, and economical man- agement have made for absolute security combined with remunerative returns to policy-holders, 2% 2% The Prudential °%*:.th¢ best ot all that is good in Life Insurance and under the best conditions. Life Insurance for Men, Women, and Chil- dren. Amounts, $50,000—S$15. Premiums pay- = HOME OFFICE. BUILDING—Ow! Occupied by able Yearly, Hall-yearly,Quarterly,orWeekly. Pradeatial invernoes Connect ee THE PRUDENTIAL INSURANCE COMPANY OF AMERICA, Home Office: NEWARK, N. J. JOHN P. DRYDEN, President, RICHARD K. FOR PREOS NEW YORK.