Life, 1911-10-12 · page 44 of 48
Life — October 12, 1911 — page 44: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is **not a cartoon or satirical content** — it's a **full-page advertisement** for a business reference book titled "A Library of the World's Greatest Business Letters." The ad promotes a three-volume collection compiled by *SYSTEM*, a business magazine, containing 672 pages of actual successful business correspondence. The pitch emphasizes that these are real letters that "sold the most goods, collected the most money, settled the hardest complaints, won the best jobs." The marketing approach appeals to early-20th-century businessmen by promising they can learn from competitors' successful techniques — covering collection letters, sales pitches, catalog accompaniments, and complaint responses. A two-year investigation by business experts supposedly analyzed which letter strategies produced the best results. The testimonial quotes from satisfied customers ("Other Men Say") and the special $1 introductory price offer are standard period advertising tactics. This reflects the era's growing interest in systematizing business practices through study and imitation. **No satirical content is present** — this is straightforward commercial promotion.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
LL PE A Library of the World’s Greatest Business Letters The letters that have sold the most goods, collected the most money, Other Men Say: settled the hardest complaints, won the Jest jobs, had the strongest Weiumetof the sti : olumne I of the “Busine! influence—analyzed and dissected for you to learn from, to adapt | Correspondence | Libran’ ea : just received. I think ee to your needs, or to develop an original style of your own—with the are very fortunate to sl : his book just now. asit wi best examples actually reproduced as they were used and graphic- _ | sreatly assist us in gettieg ly explained point by point - coming atone ally explained pe & coming season. y exp I ar iS "PAcocK, Here in these three volumes—672 pages— are packed the success-secrets back Reliance Ink Co.Lad) rite tually Winn ; ‘ 3 cyte Winnipeg, Man., Canada, of the letters that are actually winning the biggest results today, that are bringing orders from you and me and making other men's fortunes. Just finished Volume Ite Two years of investigation by a staff of experts employed by SYSTEM, the _ | the, [Husiness Comespost Jagazine of Business, were spent collecting the letters of firms and individuals; 1 never get Volumes I a4] investigating the actual results; analyzing the comparisons of costs and profits: | Hl. Volume IIs wora studying the difference in results obtained by differences in arrangement, word. Ta times, the, peice ing, enclosures, ete. Wim. M. Crane Ca] 16-18-20 W. 32nd St. Every striking idea found in use by mail order house, wholemler, manufacturer, New York. retai al estate of insurance man, Dank, collector, individual sales; man’ or complaint cicrk was followed : out and its returns studied. | This mass Would You Like to See Actual Examples of of information, this wealth of ideas, this gold mine of absolute facts w ° tempi How Other Successful Men Have Written— into one complete, yet concise library ar and simple that from it any can pick out for any sort of dvance to be successful | al inspiration. Tt is a work that will show any man how to write or dictate the kind of letter that arot attention, tingles with convincing strengtt 3 its point: ‘ta foll ow to key results, how to compile and index names, how to St schemes and plans to any’ proposition, —Letters to Follow-Up Inquiries —Letters Backed with Proof see Vol. 1, pp. 138, 139; Vol. IIL, pp. see Vol. I, p. 15. —Special Inducements to Retailer ine Main Angles Follo' pLetters see Vol. Il, pp. 128, 120, 1 178. See Vol. IIL, pp. 4. 78. —Letters Emphasizing ‘lal Prices —Letters to ‘Accompany Catalog see Vol. I, p. 130° Vol. HI. p. 158. see Vol. IL. p. —Dealers’ Trade-Getting Letters pO heating Paragraphs to Get Atten- sce Vol. Il, pp. 186, 187, 188, 18 . 198 tion see Vol. I, pp. 34. 35.30. 37. 38, 39, 84. jolding Paragraphs see Vol. IIL 149, 150. —Arguments Clinch the Sale see Vol. I, p _ SYSTEM, the Magazine of Business, conducted this investigation Aaa T Rene uP EYEE ! a es Risks for its subscribers. It was not to be given to the general public until Vol. IL. pp. 20. 31 7 185 . 1912. But the subscribers’ edition has caused a public knowledge of —Money-Certing Collection Letters —Lactere Taking Reader Into Coa- the contents, and an extra advance edition has been made imperative. Glover Angwets to Complaints ce Vol, IIT, p. 181 2640 special sets have been hastily printed. sce Vol. IIL, pp. 180, ast Resort" Collection Letters St with this coupon brings to you the complete “Business Correspondence —Araumente to Advance atts Vol. I. pe 160, 104. weiter’ Library"—3 volumes—672 pages, transportation prepaid. $2 per month for four ]_Pyrageaphs vo Prompe Action re Noe Collection Ua months thereafter: s than 7 cents a day- pays for them complete and in addi- see Vol. I, pp. 16. 17.71, 74.75. ers Collection Letters tion brings you SYSTEM, the Magazine of Business, every month for two full § i. Tit, py. 92. 95: fH. pi 147. 148. _years—24 numbers of this' remarkable business magazine, including a copy of “Lacie tp Dealers Glens ee ee —Educational Letters to Dealers’ Cus- —Collection Letters Offering Induce) The Big September SYSTEM | 2% ini scu su Mee ber that contains not only many’ pages of business plans and ideas and sc ‘ but atsy les Letters to Dealers’ Customers —Tactful Collection ‘Petters nd most interesting 3 mn of any tagazine in the wo ‘STE see Vol. ILL, pp. 18, 19, 21 '. sce Vol. I. pp. 140, 141. 164, 162, 163. 164 stands pre-eminent the Monthly Magazine of Business—260 to 350 pages in every issue ana ey —Letters to Follow-Up Real Estate —Collection Letters Quoting from them. SYSTEM shows you how to conduct of how to start a les Delinquent's Letter :, minimize wastes, keep down e: «With this coupon see Vol. IIL, pp. 77. 86, 87. 88 see Vol. 1, p. 176, M every month for ian vouts, sal pecrive atone the complete wer eV olune te Demonstration —Letters to Bring Cash with Order with the coup sce Vol. I, pp. 180, 191 i ee see Vol. IIL. pot Collection Letters Containing Sales his firm sletters crac —Effective Di scriptions in Letters manship nied terse na his acing tali—the youn : Sa pomer with hise sce'Vol. Top. dt 43. see wold, pe 188 Bad Keres a ble eeiliog te dictate into a le Salesmen's Letters to Dealers retters for Collection Agencies character th «Do 'not risk losing jour cl tea see Vol. UIT, pat. 42. 48. 4 sce Vol. 1. pp, 188,159. letters sed on Current Events sce Vol. Hp. 12 fol. I. pp. 01, 92. 142. 173 Coo Ue Sot UE Be soaciile toquitien —C 9 7273: eel Tenclose $1. Send me at once, transportation charges fully prepaid, the complete 3-volume see Vol. IL, pp. 37. 38 Attitude [ “Business Correspondence Library”--072_pages—bound in. Maroon vellum, and enter Clever Schemes to Get Replies sce Vol. 1, pp. 86, 89,90. name for a full 2 years subscription to SYSTEM, the Magazine i : ; see Vol. If, pp. 22, 26, 27. 28; Vol. IIL, —Letters Backed With Inducement September number. I promise to rem ith : ganas, making 167, 168. sce Vol. I, p. a7; Vol. 1, pp. 49, 136. 10] | -Patagraphs'to Increase Effectiveness —Letters Appealing to Women. of Enclosures see Vol. IL. pp. 87.80.91, 02,93.95.96.97 ] see Vol. IIT, p. 148. Letters Appealing to Merchants Business-Getting Postals see Vol. 1. p. tao. | see Vol. I, p. 63. -Letters to Revive Old Customers Schemes to Get Line on Prospects IL. p. 182 | Needs Offering Investments see Vol. IIL, p. 136. ot. . 107, 110, 111. . | |—Plans for Offering Premiums - sce Vol. IIT, pp. 100, 175. fol. Tle pp. 118, 119, NEW YORK CHICAGO —Effective Summaries With ‘Appeals TI THE MAGAZINE OF BUSINESS. sce Vol. I, p. 46. tention In Canada price complete is $10. Price in foreign countries $11—$5 down, $2 per —Their Best-Pulling Letters sce Vol. I sce Vol. II, pp. 108. 109. Letters With Effective and Clever month, Communications from European countries should be addressed to A. W. Shaw Con pany, Ltd.. 34, Norfolk, Strand, London, —Letters Emphasizing the You" Appeal . Element see Vol. I. pp. rot, 105. 104; Vol. I, 9 see Vol. IL, pp. 133. 134 10r, 102, 105; Vol. IIL, pp. £72, 178, 179 comicbooks.co