Life, 1916-02-03 · page 37 of 48
Life — February 3, 1916 — page 37: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a **cigarette advertisement**, not satire or political commentary. It's a straightforward 1910s-era marketing pitch for Camel cigarettes by R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. The ad targets men directly, emphasizing that Camel cigarettes contain premium Turkish and domestic tobacco requiring no cheap promotional gimmicks (premiums or coupons). The illustration shows a hand holding a cigarette—a simple product showcase. The sales pitch claims Camels deliver superior "cigarette satisfaction": mild flavor, no unpleasant aftertaste, no tongue-biting, and won't tire the palate. The text argues consumers should compare Camels "puff-by-puff with any cigarette at any price," positioning quality as justifying the price. The box display and detailed packaging notes (tin foil opening method) emphasize product integrity and preservation—a premium positioning strategy. By modern standards, the casual health claims ("mellow-mild") are remarkable—this predates any smoking health warnings by decades.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Don't look for premiums orcoupons,asthecostof the tobaccos blended in Camel Cigarettes pro- hibits the use of them. Men, here is a Camel cigarette! The tobaccos used in its manufacture are choice Turkish and choice Domestic, expertly blended, to give you a mellow-mild-body and a flavor as new to you as it is refreshing. Camels leave no unpleasant cigaretty after-taste. They will neither bite your tongue nor parch your throat. You may smoke them liberally with- out any “comeback.” And Camels will not tire your taste! So evident is the quality in Camels, and so unusual that “cigarette satis- faction” that smokers neither look for nor expect coupons or premiums. Your best way to determine how delightful Camels really are—how thoroughly they fit your fondest ciga- rette desires—is to compare them puff-by-puff with any cigarette at any price! What you pay out pots good money for is cigarette satisfaction; get it in Camel cigarettes. you will Camels are sold everywhere in scien: tifically sealed packages, 20 for toc; ten packages (200 cigarettes) $1.00, strongly recommend this carton for the home or office supply or R. J. REYNOLDS TOBACCO CO. Wiaston-Selem, N.C. The stamp place: age, eeps ing the quality o| By inserting the Angers. as illustr stamp easily breaks without tearing the tin foil, which folds back into its place. Comicbooks.com