Life, 1919-12-04 · page 79 of 80
Life — December 4, 1919 — page 79: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page is primarily a **Christmas advertisement for Sheaffer pens and pencils**, not a political cartoon. The ad presents fountain pens as ideal luxury gifts for the holiday season, emphasizing their reliability ("always writes all ways") and elegant design. The imagery shows gift-wrapped boxes and decorated pens arranged in an attractive display, appealing to affluent consumers. The marketing copy uses poetic language ("fluency of thought is never interrupted") to position the pen as a sophisticated writing instrument that captures one's thoughts perfectly on paper. Multiple price points ($2.50 to $61.50) suggest products for different budgets—a common retail strategy. The tagline "a never-forgotten gift" promises emotional resonance beyond the product's function, typical of early 20th-century luxury advertising that linked consumer goods to personal relationships and memories. This reflects the era's emphasis on gift-giving as a marker of taste and social status.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Sues ~ GinriegERS A Never-Forgotten Gift At any hour—in any place—day after day—the SHEAFFER pen proves - itself the perfect writing instrument. The SHEAFFER is a favorite gift for Yuletide, because like a story without end, this gift goes on—It always writes all ways. At the lightest touch, with ease and precision it goes — smoothly —fluently—flexibly. Fluency of thought is never interrupted by blot—blur—sputter or skip. So perfect is the SHEAFFER'S response to the guiding hand, the thought seems transferred of itself to paper. Special SHEAFFER Features distinguish it from all others. Many beautiful models and ‘mountings —for men, women—little folks, too. Give this never-forgotten Christmas gift — discover its two-fold joy —a joy to give, a joy to receive. Sold by good dealers everywhere. W. A. SHEAFFER PEN COMPANY 359 Sheaffer Building, Fort Madison, lowa New York City, 440-4 Canal Se. } SERVICE { Kansas City, Gateway Station HE SHEAFFER Sharp- Chicago, 504 Consumers lag} STATIONS { Son Francisco, Monadnock Bldg. 5 Point PENCIL is “as $2.50 2nd ups SHEAFFER Pen and Sharp-Point PENCIL, in “Giftie"" Com- good as the pen.” The fj wi with clip bination Sets, as shown in the illustration—in sterling silver, pencil illustrated is known ff cap, $2.75 and up — $9.50; gold filled, $13.50; solid gold, $61.50. as the “Engine Turned” SHEAFFER Pen Design, No. BB sterling illustrated is No, silver, $3.00; CB, 20-year Wj 4 Ce with spand ond gold filled, $3.50. Other fj oe. ie ee Eats iN designs from $1.00 in nickel SELF FIL FOUNTAIN PEN to $40.00 in solid gold. comicbooks.com