Life — June 3, 1915 — page 52: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is a June 1915 LIFE magazine advertisement for Pall Mall Famous Cigarettes. The ad uses a visual pun: "A Shilling in London" appears at top left, while the main image shows a large coin (the concentric circles design) with what appears to be a small figure in the center, playing on the phrase "A Quarter Here" (referring to a U.S. quarter's value). The ad compares British and American currency values—a shilling versus a quarter—to humorously suggest Pall Mall cigarettes offer excellent value in both markets. A cigarette package sits in the lower left corner. This is straightforward commercial advertising using wordplay about international currency rather than political satire.