Life, 1915-09-09 · page 2 of 44
Life — September 9, 1915 — page 2: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is primarily a **cigarette advertisement**, not political satire. The page shows an Orientalist scene depicting figures in Turkish/Middle Eastern dress examining pottery vessels in what appears to be a bazaar or workshop setting. The ad quotes Omar Khayyam (the Persian poet), using his name to market "Turkish Blend" cigarettes. It emphasizes exotic origins—tobaccos from Bafra, Ephesus, Xanthi, and Smyrna (Ottoman Empire regions)—combined with Virginia leaf. The imagery trades on early 20th-century Western fascination with "the Orient" as luxurious and mysterious. The price advertised is "20 for 15¢." This represents typical period advertising that used orientalist aesthetics and literary allusions to appeal to consumers seeking sophistication and exotic appeal.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Class Mail Marter iment, Canad, ‘Matter at the Post Ofice Depas ‘Englsed aad the British Possessioes. Wye f "For I ae Popene by the way “= KSI to watch a Potter thumping his wet Clay” DE — OMAR Out of Bafra, Ephesus, Xanthi and Smyrna come the choice Turkish tobaccos that give their wondrous fragrance and flavor to OMAR. Out of Virginia comes the mellow leaf that imparts sparkling snap and life to this irresistible cigarette. OMAR CIGARETTES OMAR represents the knowledge and skill of a quarter- century of experience gained in the manufacture of the world’s finest cigarettes. OMAR—the purveyor of new, undreamt-of delight to cigarette smokers —-the superior in zest and relish to all-Turkish and blended cigarettes. OMAR - the exquisite, the incomparable, the unique. THE AMERICAN ADVT. 20 for 1 5c TOBACCO COMPANY comicbooks.com DY M. Ga.