Life, 1907-08-01 · page 33 of 48
Life — August 1, 1907 — page 33: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is primarily a **cigar advertisement**, not political satire. The page features an illustration of what appear to be naval or business officials in conversation aboard a ship, framed with decorative maritime elements. The ad addresses a real economic concern: Cuban tobacco crop failures (30-40% shortage) that threatened Havana cigar production around 1906. The manufacturers of "El Príncipe de Gales" (The King of Havana Cigars) use this crisis as a marketing opportunity, claiming exclusive access to $7-8 million worth of premium Cuban leaf stored in Cuba, Tampa, and Key West—representing two-thirds of the island's suitable tobacco. The message: while competitors will suffer shortages, this brand's established reputation and stockpiles guarantee quality and availability. The nautical imagery suggests reliability and established trade networks. This reflects early 20th-century American prosperity and access to Cuban resources before the 1959 revolution ended such trade.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
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 normal—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 warehouses 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 represent at least two-thirds of all the leaf tobacco on the island suitable for making fine Havana cigars. Ths permits the undisturbed production of El rincipe de Gales “The King of Havana Cigars” and assures even better quality this year than ever before in its 60 years distinguished record. The impor- tance 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, ansaid at all leading hotels, cafes, clubs and tobacconists, and also at all the United Cigar Stores throughout the country. - comicbooks.com