Life, 1916-10-12 · page 43 of 44
Life — October 12, 1916 — page 43: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a **cigarette advertisement**, not political satire. It promotes Richmond Straight Cut cigarettes by invoking colonial Virginia gentility. The illustration depicts an after-dinner scene where "Colonel Spottiswood" (likely a fictional gentleman) produces a treasured box of cigarettes for his guests—establishing the product as a marker of refined, aristocratic taste. The ad claims these were "the first high-grade cigarettes made in the United States," positioning them as distinctly American yet sophisticated. The tagline "Preferred by Gentlemen Now as Then" links past prestige to present desirability. The price is fifteen cents, with bulk options available. This is pure product marketing aimed at affluent male consumers, using historical mystique and class association to sell cigarettes—a common advertising strategy of the early 20th century before cigarette regulation.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Richmond Straight Cut PLAINS CORK CIGARETTES “... after dinner, when Colonel Spottiswood’s guests had cased into their deep chairs, it was the Colonel's sacred rite to produce from somewhere a certain treasured box of cigarettes of fine old Virginia,” First made for the Gentlemen of Virginia—“Richmond Straight Cuts” were the first high-grade cigarettes made in the United States. FIFTEE CENT Their charm is quite as appealing today as then. This is undoubtedly because time has proved that their “bright” Virginia tobacco has an un- usual delicacy and refinement never equalled in anv other cigarette. Besides the regular package shown here, these Cigarettes are also packed in attractive tins, 50 for 40 cents; 100 for 75 cents, These larger ackages will be sent prepaid on receipt of price if your dealer cannot supply you. RICHMOND Vinoinia,USA. wien? inters UGGETTSMYERS TOBACCO 09. suceessen, ED BY GENTLEMEN NOW AS THEN comicbooks.com