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