Life, 1902-05-01 · page 22 of 22
Life — May 1, 1902 — page 22: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page is **not a political cartoon or satire**—it's a straightforward advertisement for Crawford Shoe Makers, published in *Life* magazine on May 1, 1902. The content is a mail-order shoe advertisement promoting women's and men's footwear priced at $3.50. The illustration shows a fashionably dressed Edwardian-era woman modeling the shoe style, wearing period-appropriate clothing including a elaborate feathered hat and long dress with lace detail. The ad's promotional hook is "15 Art Plates Free"—water-color fashion illustrations (seven showing costume designs, eight showing outdoor activities) available free by mail. This was a common early 20th-century marketing tactic: offering collectible art to incentivize purchases. The company emphasizes their styles reflect "latest New York, London and Paris" fashion, positioning Crawford shoes as fashionable and cosmopolitan. They list numerous retail locations across major American cities, indicating substantial national distribution for the era.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Shee For Men @ Women $3.50 15 ART PLATES FREE Beautiful water-color sketches—seven of handsome costumes—(one of which is here illustrated), and eight of Outdoor Pastimes. Free at our stores or sent for the asking. Just drop postal. On the backs are illustrations and descriptions of the latest New York, London and Paris fashions. Our styles this season consist of 61 fashionable styles in Oxfords, and 73 fashionable shapes in Lace, Buttons and Bluchers. All new this season, representing the latest ideas of New York, London and Paris custom boot makers. Styles to please everyone and for every purpose. The Crawford is a custom shoe in everything but price. Crawford Shoe Makers Mai ORDER DEPARTMENT, Room 38 140 Duane Street, New York Men's Stores 68 Pennsylvania Ave., Washington, 208 E. Baltimore St., Baltimore. 169 Tremont St., and 72 Mason St., Boston. 825 Broadway, Ni : 100 Summer St., Crawford Bldg., 433 Fulton St., kKlyn, Boston. 180 Broadway, Brooklyn, 1018 Chestnut St, Philadelphia, Women's Stores 187 Fulton St., New York. 903 Penneylvania Ave., Washington. bt West 23d St, New York. 208 E. Baltimore St., Baltimore. 625 Broadway, New York. 169 Tremont St., Boston. 150 W. 125th St, New York, 100 Sammer St., Boston, 433 Fulton St., Brooklyn, 1018 Chestnat St, Philadelphia. 189 Broadway, Brooklyn. PRESS OF THE 4. W. PRATT CO., NEW YORK comicbooks.com