Life — May 18, 1916 — page 7: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Egyptian Papyrus Series No. 1 This page combines educational content with advertising. The top shows authentic reproductions from ancient Egyptian papyri, depicting religious or ceremonial scenes with hieroglyphics. The caption identifies one scene as "Ancient Egyptian picture of Anu, the nurse, exposed to Osiris by Horus." The bulk of the page advertises Schinasi Bros. "Natural Egyptian Cigarettes," claiming they represent the original Egyptian cigarette formula. The advertisement plays on Egypt's ancient prestige, asserting these are "the best cigarette in the world" made with superior craftsmanship. The bottom decorative border repeats Egyptian motifs (appears to show mummified figures with hieroglyphics), reinforcing the Egyptian theme as marketing appeal rather than satire. This is primarily a sophisticated advertisement leveraging historical authenticity for product prestige.