The Wasp — 1887 — page 426: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is primarily a **title page and advertisement compilation** rather than editorial content or satire. The masthead announces "The Wasp" (Volume XIX, Number 25) for San Francisco, priced at 10 cents. The bulk of the page consists of **local San Francisco business advertisements** for jewelry (Louis Braverman & Co.), tailoring, photography, dentistry, whiskey, and other services. One notable advertisement features a **portrait illustration of a man** promoting "Carbolic Smoke Ball" — a purported medical remedy claiming to treat various ailments including scarlet fever, bronchitis, and deafness. This reflects the era's widespread patent medicine marketing, often exploiting consumer credulity with dubious health claims. The page demonstrates how 19th-century satirical magazines relied heavily on advertising revenue.