Life, 1919-07-31 · page 39 of 40
Life — July 31, 1919 — page 39: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page is entirely a **Camel cigarette advertisement**, not satire or political commentary. It's a straightforward product pitch from R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company. The ad features: - A hand holding two cigarette packs (one generic, one Camel) - The iconic Camel logo with a dromedary - Marketing claims emphasizing quality, flavor, smoothness, and lack of aftertaste - Price point: 18¢ per package - Competitive language ("compare Camels with any cigarette at any price") **For modern readers:** This represents pre-regulation tobacco advertising—before warning labels or restrictions. The emphatic health claims ("no unpleasant aftertaste," smoke "liberally without tiring your taste") are striking because such claims would now be illegal. The casual, confident tone about a product we now know to be highly addictive and dangerous reflects the era before cigarette health risks were widely acknowledged or regulated. This is a historical artifact showing how aggressively and uncritically tobacco was marketed.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Compare Camels with any cigarette at any price for cigarette satisfaction, based on quality; for, flavor that is so enticingly — good; for, smooth, mild-mellow-body that permits youto smoke Camels liberally without a flare-back; for, freedom from any unpleas- ant cigaretty aftertaste or any unpleasant cigaretty odor! Camels are sold everywhere in scien- tifically sealed packages of 20 cigas rettes or ten packages (200 cigarettes) in a {lassine - paper-covered carton. We strongly recommend this carton for the home or office supply or when you travel, Cigarettes made to meet your taste! AMELS are offered you as a cigarette entirely out of the ordinary—a flavor and smoothness never before attained. To best realize their quality compare Camels with any cigarette in the world at any price! Camels flavor is so refreshing, so enticing, it will win you at once —it is so new and unusual. That’s what Camels expert blend of choice Turkish and choice Domestic tobacco gives you! You'll prefer this blend to either kind of tobacco smoked straight! As you smoke Camels, you'll note the absence of any unpleasant cigaretty aftertaste or any unpleasant cigaretty odor. And, you'll be delighted to discover that you can smoke Camels liberally without tiring your taste! Take Camels at any angle—they surely supply cigarette con- tentment beyond anything you ever experienced. They’re a cigarette revelation! You do not miss coupons, premiums or gifts. You’ll prefer Camels quality! R. J. REYNOLDS TOBACCO COMPANY Winston-Salem, N. C. comicbooks.com