Life, 1920-10-21 · page 33 of 44
Life — October 21, 1920 — page 33: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is **not a political cartoon or satire**, but rather a **full-page advertisement** for Warren's Standard Printing Papers, disguised as editorial content in the style of *Life* magazine. The circular photograph at top shows a hand holding a printed product—visual evidence of the printer's craft. The headline "What the Hand of the Printer Holds for You" uses emotional, almost poetic language to argue that a business's reputation depends entirely on printed materials. The copy makes a rhetorical pitch: business owners should specify Warren paper to their printers because quality printing enhances their brand image. The list of paper types (Cameo, Silkote, Cumberland, etc.) suggests specialized products for different printing needs. For modern readers, this illustrates how early 20th-century advertising blurred the line between journalism and marketing—*Life* sold ad space that mimicked the magazine's own design and tone, making paid promotion appear as editorial endorsement. The appeal to vanity ("your reason for living") and consumer psychology ("mould the public's consciousness") reveals period advertising strategy.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“What the Hand of the Printer JTolds Jor You “OPLE who have never seen you or your gravi ink, and paper. The first two, type goods are made to see by your printing. and presses, are standard equipment Your factory, of which you are so proud; your product, which you have labored to per- fect—these things are your reason for living. But most of America’s hundred millions will get their impressions of you and your work from printed pages. When you invite people to send for your printing, you really invite them to send for the photograph of your life work. The hands of the printer mould the public's consciousness of your business existence A printer works with type and presses, en- The paper, the engravings, and the ink arc usually bought for each job. Why not assist the efforts of your printer to make your catalog or booklet express your busi- ness, by telling him you are willing that he figure on using the proper Warren Standard Printing Paper? You don't need to specify or urge the use of a Warren Standard Paper Just tell) your printer that you are willing if he is. S. D. WARREN CO., Boston, Mass. | better paper owe printing Briefly classified, Warren’s Standard Printing Papers are Warren's Silkote Warren's Cumberland Super Beok ood printer. :¢ fe, noted fo pact ered paper of standart Phe asian Warten Werres ‘ chine Hook rious specimen Warren's Cameo ‘Dull custed foe artistic Balftone printing . Bet Warren's Warrentown Coated Kook n Glossy surtace for fine halftone ‘arren’s Library Text J) for medium screen halftones Warren's Artogravure Developed especially toe offset printing Warren's Olde Style A watermarked A recognized standan! glossy-coate: we haish for type Warren's India For thia editions Nn ° War ’s Standa Printing Papers. comicbooks.com