Life — August 9, 1929 — page 6: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis This page is primarily a **cigarette advertisement** for Raleigh brand, not political satire. The illustration shows a silhouetted figure in formal attire (coat, hat) viewed from behind, standing before clouds. The accompanying text uses period marketing language emphasizing the cigarette's quality: consistent blending, mild taste, and firm construction. The reference to "old Sir Walter" appears to invoke Sir Walter Raleigh, the historical figure after whom the brand is named—a common marketing practice linking products to famous names. The final line "[PLAIN—OR TIPPED]" indicates packaging options available to consumers. This represents early 20th-century tobacco advertising, notable today primarily for its candid promotion of cigarettes without health warnings—a practice later restricted by law.