Life, 1899-12-02 · page 43 of 44
Life — December 2, 1899 — page 43: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a **tobacco advertisement**, not political satire. The American Tobacco Company promotes Bengal Little Cigars to early 20th-century readers, emphasizing their superiority through several marketing claims: **Key selling points:** - Priced at 10 cents for 10 cigars (competitive pricing) - Hand-made with superior tobacco (claimed to cost twice as much as competitors) - Distinctive curved packaging that fits pockets and prevents damage - "Perfecto" shape that burns evenly and stays lit - Lacks the "sharp, biting taste" of cheaper alternatives **The call-to-action:** Readers could mail 10 cents in stamps for a trial box, a common mail-order sales method of the era. The ad positions Bengal cigars as a quality product at an affordable price point, targeting cigar-smokers seeking better tobacco without premium pricing. There is no cartoon, satire, or political content—this is straightforward product promotion from Life magazine's advertising section.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
wr = : =~, 99 “A ROYAL SMOKE to cents for 10. No other Little Cigars are packed in a _ Curved Box. Bengal Little Cigars are to cigar-smokers and all who smoke Little Cigars what Old Eng- lish Curve Cut pipe tobacco is to pipe- smokers—the best quality at the low- est possible cost for that quality. The tobacco in Bengal Little Cigars costs twice as much as the tobacco used in any other little cigars that are sold for 10 cents! ; in postage stamps for a trial box of ten—and tr Send us Io cts. them cecaily, Bengal Little Cigars do a have ‘‘that sharp, biting taste,” and are a cigar-smoker’s smoke. This is the first advertising of them to the public, and we want you to judge them strictly on their merit—in comparison with any other little cigars you can buy for to cents. BENGAL LITTLE CIGARS are hand-made, are ‘‘Perfecto” shape, draw not too freely, burn evenly, stay lighted, and are really agreeable and desirable. The new curved box in which they are packed is most convenient and does not take up any unnecessary room in the pocket. It keeps them from breaking and also keeps them from “drying ‘Out,’’ so that Bengal Little Cigars will always be | found in perfect condition for pleasant smoking. We will send a box of to to any one, anywhere, by return mail on receiving to cents in stamps with name and address plainly written. Please write BENGAL on the envelope. The American Tobacco Co., 11 Fifth Avenue, New-York, N.Y.