Life — September 23, 1920 — page 2: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Murad Turkish Cigarette Advertisement This is a straightforward **cigarette advertisement**, not satire or political commentary. It promotes Murad brand Turkish cigarettes at 20 cents per pack. The ad uses orientalist imagery—a stylized Turkish mosque and architectural elements—to market "100% pure Turkish tobacco" as a luxury product. The copy emphasizes quality over quantity, claiming Murads are "the largest selling high-grade cigarette in the world" and appeals to American smokers' preference for quality. The elegant hand holding cigarettes is a common advertising device of the era, suggesting sophistication and refined taste. There's no cartoon or satirical intent here—it's period marketing that exploits exotic Turkish imagery to sell cigarettes as a status symbol to discriminating American consumers.