Life, 1907-07-25 · page 17 of 22
Life — July 25, 1907 — page 17: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a **full-page advertisement** for El Príncipe de Gales cigars, not a political cartoon. The image shows a social gathering (likely a formal event or reception), but serves merely as decorative framing for the ad's message. **The actual content is commercial propaganda** addressing a real 1906 crisis: Cuban tobacco shortages (30-40% below normal) threatening Havana cigar production. The ad claims Henry Clay, Bock & Co., and Havana-American Co. stockpiled $7-8 million worth of premium Cuban leaf—two-thirds of all suitable island tobacco—guaranteeing uninterrupted quality. **The pitch**: While competitors struggle, El Príncipe de Gales ("The King of Havana Cigars") maintains its 60-year reputation through strategic reserves. Buy established brands, not risky unknowns. This is marketing exploiting geopolitical disruption, not satire.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Farms, out to fas. irst.”” Hl, cep deep." n't in, ace. cents. tpaid erect | c. Copyright. 1996, by the Havana-American Company. Important to Smokers of Fine Havana Cigars The last two crops of tobacco grown in Cuba show a shortage conservatively estimated at 30% to 40% below nor- mal—a condition that has seriously affected the production of genuine clear Havana cigars and will continue to do so. But even two years of short crops cannot affect the factories supplying Henry Clay and Bock & Co., Ltd., or the Havana-American Co. There is now in warchouses in Cuba, Tampa and Key West, between $7,000,000.00 and $8,000,000.00 worth of the very highest grade Cuban leaf, held exclusively for these Companies. These holdings repre- “sent at least two-thirds of all the leaf tobacco on the island suitable for making fine Havana cigars. This permits the undis- turbed production of El Principe de Gales “The King of Havana Cigars” and assures even better quality this year than ever before in its 60 years’ distinguished record. The importance of depending at this time on a brand of long established reputation need not be emphasized. Made in many shapes and sizes at 10c to 50c each, and sold at all leading hotels, cafes, clubs and tobacconists, and also at all the United Cigar Stores throughout the country. comicbooks.com