Life, 1919-08-28 · page 39 of 40
Life — August 28, 1919 — page 39: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is **not a cartoon or satire**—it's a full-page cigarette advertisement for Camel brand cigarettes by R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, priced at 18 cents per package. The ad features product photography showing a box of cigarettes with individual packs displayed, along with a circular inset demonstrating the package's opening mechanism. The text emphasizes marketing claims typical of early 20th-century tobacco advertising: "full-bodied mellow-mildness," "freedom from...unpleasant cigaretty aftertaste," and superior quality from a blend of "Turkish and choice Domestic tobaccos." The phrase about Camels being "made to meet your own personal taste" and never tiring your taste represents standard period advertising rhetoric, before health warnings were required. This page confirms that *Life* magazine, despite its satirical reputation, accepted tobacco advertising—a common practice before the 1960s-70s advertising restrictions on cigarettes.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
w three h strikers in al ed the reeches, ongres ree. ats for ing up LIFE. The stamp placed over end se the package, which keeps ow yo thereby preserving the, qual the blended tobaccos. By inserting the fingers as illustrated, the stamp casily breaks without tearing the tin foil, which folds back into its place. Camels are sold everywhere in scientifically sealed packages of 20 cidarettes or ten pack- ages (200 cigarettes) in aglassine-paper covered carton. We strongly recommend this carton for the home or office supply of when you travel 18 cents a package Camels supply cigarette contentment beyond anything you ever experienced! You never tasted such full-bodied mellow-mildness; such refreshing, appetizing flavor and coolness, The more Camels you smoke the greater becomes your delight—Camels are such a cigarette revelation! Everything about Camels you find so fascinating is due to their quality—to the expert blend of choice Turkish and choice Domestic tobaccos. You'll prefer this blend to either kind of tobacco smoked straight. You'll say Camels are in a class by themselves— they seem made to meet your own personal taste in so many ways! Freedom from any unpleasant cigaretty aftertaste or unpleasant cigaretty odor makes Camels particu- larly desirable to the most fastidious smokers. And, you smoke Camels as liberally as meets your own wishes, for they never tire your taste! You are always keen for the cigarette satisfaction that makes Camels so attractive. Your personal test of Camels will bring you a lot of real cigarette happiness. Smoke them today— then take this advice: Compare Camels with any cigarette in the world at any price! R. J. REYNOLDS TOBACCO COMPANY Winston-Salem, N. C. comicbooks.com