Life — December 25, 1902 — page 76: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is a cigar advertisement, not political satire. It depicts a bearded military officer in formal dress uniform with epaulettes, medals, and a bicorne hat, touching his hat in a salute. The text identifies him as "El Príncipe de Gales" (The Prince of Wales) and promotes him as "Now King of Havana Cigars." The ad plays on prestige associations—linking the product to royal imagery and aristocratic refinement. The figure's military regalia suggests authority and distinction. The notation "Made in Havana and Tampa" indicates the cigar's origin, referencing Tampa's significant Cuban cigar manufacturing industry in early 20th-century America. The humor likely rests on elevating a cigar product through mock-royal endorsement.