Life, 1904-11-03 · page 40 of 40
Life — November 3, 1904 — page 40: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a **full-page advertisement**, not a cartoon or satirical content. It promotes "Viyella," a British flannel fabric brand, published in *Life* magazine on November 3, 1904. The ad emphasizes that Viyella is an "ideal English flannel for Fall, 1904," available at American retailers for 75 cents per yard. It highlights the fabric's range of patterns (solids, stripes, plaids, prints) and its key selling point: **it does not shrink**—a significant advantage when wool fabrics commonly shrank during laundering. The warning "Avoid imitations! Refuse substitutes!" reflects early 20th-century competitive markets where counterfeit or inferior imitation fabrics were common problems. The emphasis on the product's English origin suggests quality cachet—British textiles were considered superior during this era. No satire or political content is present; this is straightforward period advertising.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“Y VIVELLA e a THE IDEAL ENGLISH FLANNEL ‘ FOR FALL, 1904 \ —— “*Viyella’’ can be obtained at the leading retail stores throughout the United States 75 cents per yard, 31 inches ‘“Viyella’” comes in all the new Fall shades, in. solid colors, stripes, plaids, prints, and fancy woven designs. Avoid imitations! Refuse substitutes! DOES NOT SHRINK comicbooks.com