Life, 1903-02-12 · page 22 of 22
Life — February 12, 1903 — page 22: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is **not a cartoon or satire**—it's a straightforward **advertisement** for The Prudential Insurance Company of America, published in *Life* magazine on February 12, 1902. The page celebrates the company's 27-year track record with financial statistics: over 272 million in life insurance issued, 800 million in force, and 68 million paid to policyholders. The central image of the Rock of Gibraltar emphasizes stability and strength—a common metaphor for reliable insurance companies. The "greatest record" headline and detailed metrics were typical boasting language in early-1900s corporate advertising, when companies used prestigious publications like *Life* to build investor and customer confidence. The mention of "marked reduction in expense rate" and "increased dividends" targeted both current policyholders and potential customers. There is no satire here—just period business advertising.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
\ eS PL PE ey “AMOUNTS XX. $100.000 ro $15 Greatest Record in the History of this Giant Company LIFE INSURANCE ISSUED AND PAID FOR ) }\272 Millions during 1902, including Ordinary Insurance ($87,000,000), over J ASSETS, end of 1902, over ‘ ‘ ‘ . 3 60 Millions INCOME, during 1902, over. - + 33 Millions PAID POLICY-HOLDERS, during 1902, over, * 9 Millions SURPLUS, over . . oo Q Millions POLICIES IN FORCE, sexly 5 Millions INCREASE IN PAID-FOR INSURANCE i in Bore. ever 108 Millions MAKING THE GRAND TOTAL OF Paid-for Insurance in Force over 800 Millions Paid Policy-holders in 27 Years, nearly 68 Milllons Features of the Year's Administration were Marked Reduction in Expense Rate. Increased Dividends to Policy-Holders. The Progressive Management and the Judicious Care of, and Liberality in Dealing with, Policy-holders’ Interests, have made this ONE OF THE GREAT LIFE INSURANCE COMPANIES OF THE WORLD ‘Write for Information of Policies or Agencies, Dept. O. THE PRUDENTIAL Novara INSURANCE CO. OF AMERICA. sonw r. prvoen, President. PREGS OF THE 4. W. PRATT CO., MEW YORK. comicbooks.com