Life, 1916-04-06 · page 2 of 80
Life — April 6, 1916 — page 2: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a **cigarette advertisement**, not satire or political commentary. The page promotes Camel brand cigarettes made by R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company. The ad's hook is "NO coupons, NO premiums, but my, what a cigarette!"—claiming Camels need no gimmicks because the product itself is superior. The hand holding a lit cigarette emphasizes the smoking experience. The copy promises Camels won't "bite your tongue," "parch your throat," or leave "unpleasant cigaretty after-taste," highlighting smoothness from their "expert blend of choice Turkish and choice Domestic tobaccos." The bottom displays five Camel cigarette packs with the iconic camel logo. This represents straightforward product marketing typical of early 20th-century tobacco advertising, before health warnings were required.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
premiums= ~a , but my, what a cigarette! That’s what you'll naturally exclaim when you have smoked a few Camels and get the cigarette happiness that’s bound to come to you from the expert blend of choice Turkish and choice Domestic tobaccos that you will find inCamels. And that delightful, refreshing flavor and mellow-mild-body that proves how much it will afford you in cigarette contentment—instantly! You do not look for or expect coupons or premiums! Never has there been such a cigarette made; never has there been put into a cigarette such a combination of desirable features So appealing to cigarette smokers! For Camels will not bite your tongue; will not parch your throat; will not leave any unpleasant cigaretty after-taste! Add to this the smoothness of Camels, because you can smoke them Fla der agrct ard freely without tiring your taste; without a suggestion of comeback ! Thorsby ene cut ait, And to prove absolutely the superiority of Camels to your satisfaction, you Guality of the blended = BFE asked to compare them with any cigarette in the world at any price! fobace inserti the finders av illustrate Camels are sold everywhere in scientifically sealed packages, 20 for 10c: or ten ed, the stamp easily packages (200 cigarettes) in a glassine-paper-covered carton for $1.00, We breaks without tearing strongly recommend this carton for the home or office supply or when you travel, Beckintoitepiace.” — R, J, REYNOLDS TOBACCO COMPANY, Winston-Salem, N. C. FAA SUS > TURKISH & DOMESTIC Le BLEND GIGARETrTEs comicbooks.com