Life, 1904-10-13 · page 22 of 22
Life — October 13, 1904 — page 22: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is **not a cartoon or satirical content**—it's a straightforward **advertisement for Henry Clay cigars** appearing in *Life* magazine (October 13, 1904). The page showcases six new cigar sizes with military-themed names: Secretary Navy, Admiral, Commodore, Commander, Ensign, and Cadet. The naming scheme appears designed to appeal to American nationalism and masculine identity during the early 20th century, when the U.S. Navy was a source of national pride. The ad emphasizes that Henry Clay is an established, prestigious brand associated with Havana cigars for "several generations," positioning it as a quality product. The cigars are manufactured in Havana, Cuba, but sold through New York distributors to major U.S. cities. This represents typical early-1900s luxury tobacco marketing—targeting affluent male consumers through appeals to tradition, quality, naval prestige, and specific pricing tiers for different sizes.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
HERE is no better. known name and trade- sheark identified with Havana Cigars than HENRY CLAY, This name has for several generations stood for fine quality only, and has without doubt had as much influence in building up the repu- tation of Havana Cigars as any one brand known to the public. Here are six new shapes and sizes— original ‘and distinguished! They have the refined “Regalia” style, but modified from the extreme la Flor de Henry Clay pointed Shape. The skill, the experience and the traditions of.a century are, combined in this new production from the famous HENRY CLAY factory. A selection of tobacco has-been made for these six new “NAVY” sizes from our own plantations that Is unapproachable, for they are-mild and yet have that rare aromatic quality so prized in the finer Havana Cigars. They are made in the original HENRY CLAY factory and by the same workmen who have made HENRY CLAY cigars for a generation. In addition to possessing these characteristic traits of quality and style, these new shapes and these new names are given them to ald the smoker to identify the different sizes and fix in his mind their grading prices. They are now for sale by the leading Iniporters * and Retailers of fine cigars In- all the large cities in the United States. ~ BeeHRY Chays WAV AND —25 CENTS ADMIRAL—=3 FOR 81.00 COMMODORE COMMANDER—20 CENTS ENSIGN—3 FOR 50 CENTS JULIAN ALVAREZ, CALZADA DE LUYANO 100 Habana, Cuba HAVANA TOBACCO COMPANY, 111 Fifth Ave. New York General Selling Agents for the United States comicbooks.com