Life, 1916-06-08 · page 7 of 46
Life — June 8, 1916 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page is primarily an advertisement for the Encyclopedia Britannica's "Handy Volume" issue, not a cartoon or satirical content. The ad uses an illustration of a sunset on June 17 to announce a price increase taking effect that date. The marketing pitch emphasizes urgency—readers must order before 7:33 p.m. on June 17 to lock in current prices ($11-$19 depending on binding). The ad attributes the price hike to wartime inflation: paper costs rose significantly, leather bindings became 75% more expensive, and some materials became impossible to import due to "the British embargo on fine leather." The copy stresses the encyclopedia's value (29 volumes, 30,000+ pages, 500,000 index entries) while leveraging scarcity and deadline pressure as sales tactics. Sears, Roebuck and Co. is listed as the sole distributor.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
the new Encyclopaedia Britannica (‘HANDY VOLUME” ISSUE) will advance in price—311 on the cheapest binding; °19 on the highest-priced |se.tesst] HIS advance is due to circumstances over which we have no control. The war has forced up the cost of all raw materials for making these books. Paper costs very much more than it did before the war. Some Jeathers cost 75 per cent more, and others cannot be imported—they are under embargo. Tt will soon be impossible for us to supply sets in the most expensive leathers at any price because of the British embargo on fine leathers. The Britannica is @ work that you need. The If your order is to be greatest of all reference works, in this new edition, it is made up of 29 volumes, more than 30,000 pages, 44,000,000 words, 41,000 articles, written by 1500 experts chosen for their supreme fitness. There are 15,000 pictures and maps. An index of 500,000 entries makes all this wealth of information easily available. All yours now at a great price saving—in any binding, shipped complete for a first payment of only $1. Satisfaction guaranteed or your money back. ‘These prices not good after June 17. accepted at the present low prices it must be postmarked before 7.33 p. m., June 17th. Don’t wait until the last minute. Order to-day. We take all the risk. You are protected by our guarantee. There will never be such a chance again. Sears, Roebuck and Co. Sole Distributors Chicago To Sears, Roebuck and Co., Chicago Please send me a set of the “Handy Volume” issue of the new Eneyelopa Britannica (11th edition), India paper, in style of binding marked with an Tenclose $1.00 as first payment and agree to pay balance in monthly payments as specified. You are to give me receipt when I have paid in full, and then the Encyclo- paedia becomes my property. /t ts agreed that I may return the books within three weeks if I am not entirely satisfied with them. T have always been faithful in paying my obligations and am making this state- ment for the purpose of inducing you to gran. me this credit and to assure you that you may feel safe in trusting me to pay as agreed. Name . an your name here plainly and carefully) Postoffice .. State. Street and N Shipping Point, if different from Post-office I have been located in this town since. My profession, business or occupation is NOTE: To pay cash in full, write in only your name, address and the place to which the books are to be sent; check (to the right) the binding you want; and enclose check, money-order or draft for the cash price as listed for that binding. Ail prices are foured s0 low that shipping charges cannot be prepaid. The st boxed for shipment, weighs less than 60 pounds. We have warehouses in 12 cities and will ship your set from the nearest, Check Your Choice Cloth—21 payments of $3.00 OO oath Fatah Son (J Fall Brown Sheep, Moroceo Grained—21 paymeots of $3.50 monthly. Total, $74.50. CX Crushed Green Morocco, Le- vant Grained—22 payments of $4.00 monthly. "Total, $89.00. (C2 Fall Crushed Green Morocco, Leyant Grained—22 payments of $4.50 monthly, Total, $100.00, CASH PRICES Cloth, $58.88 (Corresponding binding and pa- fer in Cambridge issue sells af $166.75 cash.) 508.54 Sheep, (Corresponding ‘binding and pa- ger in Cambridge issue sells at $203.25 cash.) % Moroceo, $81.83, (No corresponding binding in Cambridge issue.) Full Moroceo, $92.00 (Corresponding binding and pa- fer in Cambridge issue sells at $267.50 cash.) comicbooks.com .