Life, 1915-12-23 · page 40 of 40
Life — December 23, 1915 — page 40: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a **cigarette advertisement**, not political satire. It's a 1915 Life magazine ad for Pall Mall cigarettes' luxury "Magnum package" Christmas gift offering—200 cigarettes (100 cork-tipped, 100 plain) in an ornate holiday container. The decorative elements (the elaborate scrollwork borders and ribbon-tied gift box illustration) emphasize premium positioning. The copy appeals to early-20th-century social conventions: presenting cigarettes as an appropriate, thoughtful Christmas gift for social gatherings where guests could choose their preferred smoking style. This reflects the pre-health-warning era when cigarettes were normalized luxury goods marketed like fine spirits today. The "better shops here and abroad" language targets affluent consumers. There is no cartoon or political commentary—just commercial promotion using festive, elegant design.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
December 23, 1915 The Magnum package of PALL MALL Famous Cigarettes 200 cigarettes — 100 cork tipped and 100 plain ends packed in a holiday container wrapped and ready for mailing or messenger Especially designed for social functions, this unique packing affords opportunity to friends and guests to exercise their preference for either cork or plain For your “Christmas Greetings” what could give you more pleasure in the giving or be a greater joy to receive On display early in December at the better shops here and abroa comicbooks.com