Monday, April 25, 2011

Tobacco Ephemera 4


The image above must have been shockingly racey and sexy when it was printed in the 1880s. No lady would have smoked in public then — or bared so much shoulder (gasp!). At 6", this die cut is larger than most trade cards.
.
Posted by Mark D. Ruffner at 4:00 AM
Labels: , , ,

8 comments:

  1. GinaApril 25, 2011 at 7:41 AM

    Hi Mark, She looks innocent enough. This may be my favorite from this series. Have a great day.

    ReplyDelete
  2. quintessenceApril 25, 2011 at 8:47 AM

    Not to mention that she looks like she's 12!!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Mark D. RuffnerApril 25, 2011 at 9:38 AM

    Hi Gina and Stacey - I find in my assortment of Victorian trade cards that, while men and women were for the most part treated with utmost modesty, children were often portrayed in every form of undress. Perhaps this and its meaning are subjects for a future posting ... Mark

    ReplyDelete
  4. A. Kadowaki BusbyApril 26, 2011 at 6:30 AM

    Hi Mark,
    This one is a little disturbing for my 21st century sensibilities because she looks childlike. Yet, using very young models in a sexy way, is a standard practice today. I guess that our industry of persuasion has done a very good job at making me accept youth and sex and reject youth and cigarettes. Very interesting.
    Anyes
    XX

    ReplyDelete
  5. Mark D. RuffnerApril 26, 2011 at 9:28 AM

    Thanks for weighing in on this, Anyes. I have decided to expand on the subject in a future posting, one about the use of children in 19th (and maybe 20th) century advertising. Stay "posted!"

    ReplyDelete
  6. P.Gaye Tapp at Little AuguryApril 27, 2011 at 9:49 AM

    there is no telling what goes on behind closed doors-don't judge me, maybe that's the allure. I love these ads you are featuring, being from a tobacco past and just next door to the great bull city of durham.
    http://www.americantobaccohistoricdistrict.com/atc-history.html

    ReplyDelete
  7. Mark D. RuffnerApril 27, 2011 at 9:57 AM

    Hi, Gaye - In my childhood, I lived for a short time near Richmond, Virginia, and the tobacco culture was indeed pervasive in those parts. One childhood memory is the drive into Richmond past cigarette packs that were monuments as big as buildings. I suppose they're gone now ...

    ReplyDelete
  8. GinaApril 27, 2011 at 10:57 AM

    Hi Mark, another very interesting post.
    Have a surprise for you. You are the winner of my my unanounced contest.
    Gina

    ReplyDelete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)