8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very soft sell, December 7, 2005
This review is from: All-American Ads 1900-1919 (Midi S.) (Paperback)
The ninth and final volume in this fascinating series of American advertising. If like me you have collected the set your bookcase is supporting just over six thousand pages, which contain at least fifteen thousand ads, all beautifully printed on quality paper.
This last book, though is just on the fringes of my interest but it does have some lovely ad artwork. I was expecting to be overwhelmed by heavy Victorian style illustrations but there is some very refreshing work with a delicate touch, mostly for products like clothing, perfume or soap aimed at the female consumer. As with the other volumes the chapter on auto ads has the most ambitiously produced material, either as art or copy, page 162 has a 1914 Packard ad with the car outside a cathedral and just one line of text, 'Ask the man who owns one'. Adventurous stuff for the times considering that most ads were very text heavy.
Unlike later decades consumer goods are scarcely visible though I was surprised to see on page 257 a 1919 Western Electric ad for their Dish-Washing Machine. Mostly the 'must have' items seem to be sewing machines, telephones, stoves or phonographs. This last product had a 1913 Columbia ad promoting their 78s as Double Disc Records. Music on both sides. Two records for a single price. Considering that photography had been around since the mid-1800s only two or three ads in the book use photos, the 1908 King Air Rifle has a clear photo of three kids dreaming about getting their own rifles and free targets, too.
This thick book will interest social historians and also illustrators, there are some wonderful examples of graphic styling that really don't seem too dated even though many are just over a hundred years old. I think Taschen should be congratulated for publishing nearly ten decades of American ad creativity.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
It all "ads" Up, January 29, 2007
This review is from: All-American Ads 1900-1919 (Midi S.) (Paperback)
This installment of All-American Ads covers the dawn of the 20th century and the beginning of sophisticated selling. The book follows the same format used in previous volumes covering magazine advertising in each decade of the last century.
The book documents the rise of branded national advertising. While some of the ideas are dated-- there are a number of current campaign and tag lines that had their genisus in this time period.
National magazine and newspaper advertising would grow into a tremendously potent medium in the '20's and '30's (both covered well by other books in this series) but, if like me, you are fascinated by what our ancestors bought and how it was sold to them-- this book is a good place to see what got them into stores.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Loved It, January 2, 2011
This review is from: All-American Ads 1900-1919 (Midi S.) (Paperback)
Having bought previous titles in this Taschen series, I was delighted to find that this particular volume is equally as spectacular. In fact, it's my favourite so far. I love viewing the past through the lens of popular advertising. Much is revealed of the hopes, wishes and concerns of the day. The graphics style of the ads is elegant, sometimes exotic and very colourful. Worth adding to your collection.
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