Thursday, January 15, 2009

1908 advertising

These come from the Auckland Star and Thames Star, July-August 1908.



Cocoa and coffee and progress -- I like the simplicity to the Van Houten's ad, probably originating from America or Australia. More Van Houten's artwork here.



Brown Barrett & Co were a New Zealand importing company for coffees and teas from the late Victoran era to the middle of the 20th century. Not a bad piece of drawing for its time -- the dangling brandname letters certainly catch the eye.



This looks much better on the original printed page than here -- but it attracted me because of the business, the person drafting this ad trying to convey the impression of a busy, crowded bar full of toffs and swells (perhaps in a theatre?). Considering the printing technology of the time, this came out very well.



Sanfords these days is a multi-million dollar concern. Back in 1908, it was still small enough to be thought of as just another fish stockist.



Fry's Cocoa's simple advertisement with the plant entwining the letters is typically elegant of this long-lasting company.



This is the first NZ advertisement I've been able to say definitely has art nouveau leanings. I'm a bit of a fan of art nouveau and its fin de siƩcle feel.



This ad implies that Derby 'baccy is for oil prospectors (in the background are oil rigs and derricks). Probably apt for the Thames area where this advertisement was published.



Yep -- you really can't go having your corsets getting rusty on you. Hard enough to imagine how women put up with the things, without them corroding so close to the skin.



And finally -- this is here because it is utterly weird. "X-Ray" in 1908 still meant something miraculous, but what it has to do with a stove cleaner, or even an infestation of little antennaed pixies or something is beyond me. For another example of this ad, check this out. More examples of "X-Ray" advertising here.

No comments:

Post a Comment