Life — September 18, 1931 — page 2: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis This is a **Camel cigarette advertisement**, not satire or a political cartoon. The page promotes Camel's "Humidor Pack" to women, claiming the product keeps cigarettes fresh through special air-sealing. The ad features a photograph of a smiling woman holding a cigarette, with text encouraging readers to test Camel's "freshness and mildness" against competitors. It emphasizes the Humidor Pack's ability to preserve tobacco moisture and protect against "dust and germs." The tagline "Smoke a fresh cigarette" and closing text suggest buying Camels "by the carton" ensures home freshness. **Historical context**: This reflects early-to-mid 20th-century tobacco marketing targeting women during an era when smoking was promoted as fashionable and safe—claims later proven false.