Life, 1928-12-14 · page 35 of 48
Life — December 14, 1928 — page 35: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a **straightforward advertisement**, not satire. It promotes imported Cuban cigars as a Christmas gift, appearing in *Life* magazine (page 33). The caricatured man represents an affluent gentleman—the target consumer for luxury goods. The ad emphasizes authenticity through Cuba's official government seal (the "big green label"), positioning Havana cigars as superior due to tropical growing conditions and generations of native craftsmanship. The advertiser is Cuba's tobacco promotion commission ("Comisión Nacional de Propaganda y Defensa del Tabaco Habano"), legitimizing the product as government-guaranteed. **Historical context**: This predates the 1959 Cuban Revolution and subsequent U.S. embargo. At this time, Cuban cigars were legal and prestigious American luxury items. The ad's appeal to quality and governmental certification reflects pre-Cold War trade relationships between the U.S. and Cuba. There is **no political satire here**—it's period advertising for a now-restricted product.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
a Real Havana! V Give HIM a box of real Imported Havanas for his Christmas and your gift will go right on giving pleasure as long as the box lasts! For a real Havana is the mellowed fragrance of pure Havana leaf blended by native experts into cigars of exquisite aroma! You identify them by the big green label on every box. It’s the official seal of the government of the Republic of Cuba, guaranteeing not only the super-excellence of a leaf grown under most favorable tropical conditions, but also warranting cigars so sealed, as all hand-made by native ex- perts, whose skill for sorting, blending and rolling has come down for generations. Real Havanas! All boxes sealed with the big green — oe label. On sale wherever good cigars are sold. awl CS ane a I : ” This green label bearing the oficial Seat of the Republic of Cuba guarantees the with genuine Imported Havana Cigars, Look for it on every box you buy. Imported Havana CIGARS COMISION NACIONAL DE PROPAGANDA Y DEFENSA DEL TABACO HABANO HABANA, CUBA comicbooks.com