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Public Domain Photos: Coca-Cola Ad

Evan — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:45:29 +0000

This iconic photograph comes from the Farm Security Administration/Office of War Information Color Photographs Collection in the Library of Congress.

Shot in 1940 in Natchez, Mississippi, this images captures a small town cafe, whose weathered appearance contrasts with several newer cola signs. The prominent sign is for Coca-Cola with its signature script typeface in red and white. In addition to Coca-Cola, there are ads for Royal Crown and Orange-Crush.

This image is notable for the weathered Western look of the cafe alone. The addition of the cola signs adds a modern twist to an otherwise sullen image.

This photo was taken by Marion Post Wolcott, who was working as an agent of the United States government. Because this image was taken by an employee of the federal government, it is in the public domain. Please note that while this image exists in the public domain, the logos, colors, and/or text on the advertisements may be trademarked. It is your responsibility to investigate any possible restriction to the use of this image.

60 megabyte TIFF. Hosted at the Library of Congress.

Cola Ads on Storefront

Evan — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:45:05 +0000

This wonderful photograph comes from the Farm Security Administration/Office of War Information Color Photographs Collection in the Library of Congress.

Shot in 1940 in Natchez, Mississippi, this images captures a storefront cafe advertising a variety of cola products. On the brick fascia there are ads for Double Cola, Dr. Pepper, Royal Crown, Coca-Cola, and Orange-Crush.

This image captured my interest when I noticed two small signs in the top right of the frame that read “666 colds fever.” I was struck by this odd name for a medication. With some additional research I found that this product is still being manufactured by LEE PHARMACEUTICAL CO. Awesome: big-pharma and the devil. This world gets cooler by the day.

This photo was taken by Marion Post Wolcott working as an agent of the United States Government. Because this image was taken by an employee of the federal government, it is in the public domain. Please note that while this image exists in the public domain, the logos, colors and text on the advertisements may be trademarked. It is your responsibility to investigate any possible restriction in the use of this image.

43 megabyte TIFF. Hosted at the Library of Congress.

“As You Like It”

Evan — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 21:17:50 +0000

This bizarre public domain tobacco label comes from the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division. It portrays a young child in a red and white jester’s hat and matching striped pajamas smoking a pipe and flying on a large black beetle. This label was produced and distributed by Hatch & Co. of New York. The type reads “As You Like It.”

This advertisement was published in 1869. Because of this pre-1923 publication date this image is in the public domain.

4 megabyte TIFF. Hosted at the Library of Congress.

Jupiter Cigars for Sale Here

Evan — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 21:16:42 +0000

This fantastic public domain tobacco poster comes from the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division. In it, we find a scantily clad Jupiter standing on a mass of clouds with a handful of lightning bolts in his right hand. The bolts are radiating in every direction like the spokes on a wheel. Falling from his left shoulder is a dismembered head.

This advertisement was published in 1868. Because of this pre-1923 publication date, this image is in the public domain.

50 megabyte TIFF. Hosted at the Library of Congress.

Ariel Riding a Bat

Evan — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 21:14:28 +0000

This colorful public domain tobacco label comes from the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division. The subject is Ariel, who is portrayed as a beautiful maiden with long flowing blond hair and a garland of flowers around her waist. She is clad in a wind-swept sheer white dress and is riding on an obscenely large bat.

It is likely that the Ariel portrayed in this image is taken from William Shakespeare’s play The Tempest, in which Ariel is an airy sprite who serves the magician Prospero. In Shakespeare’s manuscript, Ariel is a male figure, but during the nineteenth century, the role was primarily played by women.

This advertisement was published in 1869. Because of this pre-1923 publication date this image is in the public domain.

4 megabyte TIFF. Hosted at the Library of Congress.

Goodbye Sweetheart

Evan — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 21:11:48 +0000

This vertically oriented public domain tobacco label comes from the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division. In it, an attractive young woman with flowing hair and delicate features looks out to sea with a pair of binoculars. She is adorned in a reddish-pink dress with frilly red top layers.

This advertisement image was published in 1860s. This pre-1923 publication date ensures that this image is in the public domain.

4 megabyte TIFF. Hosted at the Library of Congress.

Gainer’s Spanish Bitters

Evan — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 21:09:36 +0000

This public domain medicine bottle label comes from the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division. The image consists of an action scene in which three vehicles are reaching a confluence at the center of the image. On the right, a wagon loaded with what one assumes is Gainer’s Spanish Bitters, races into the frame. Top left, a train bedecked with the Gainer’s Spanish Bitters insignia crosses a bridge, also covered with Gainer’s typeface. Entering the frame from left center, a large paddle wheel ferry steams through a canal. On the wheel well, Gainer’s is written in an arch following the contour of the ship. In the train’s smoke trail, the abundance of Gainer’s typeface is explained by the word “Celebrated.”

This advertisement image was published in 1868. This pre-1923 publication date ensures that this image is in the public domain.

4 megabyte TIFF. Hosted at the Library of Congress.

Wolcott’s Instant Pain Annihilator

Evan — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 21:02:37 +0000

This large public domain advertisement is from the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division. The ad consists of two parts, an upper and lower frame.

In the uppermost frame, a man is being tormented by a hoard of angry devils, which represent the ailments: headache, toothache, nausea, and others. The man is clearly not well, and the Grim Reaper is looking over his shoulder from the background.

In the second frame, we see the same man after taking a swig of Wolcott’s Instant Pain Annihilator. The devils are swept away and the subject appears to be basking in a heavenly glow.

One might assume that the heavenly glow is the result of a strong dose of opiates, or cocaine, as these were common ingredients in over-the-counter medications at that time.

This advertisement image was published in 1863. This pre-1923 publication date insures that this image is in the public domain.

4 megabyte TIFF. Hosted at the Library of Congress.

Beauty Tobacco Label

Evan — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:47:13 +0000

This public domain advertisement is from the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division. The subject of the ad is a young girl powdering her cheek with a large powder puff applicator. One assumes that the powder is “Beauty,” the product being sold by R. Wilson & Co. This advertisement was published in the form of a tobacco label.

The pre-1923 publication date associated with this advertisement indicated that this image is in the public domain.

4 megabyte TIFF. Hosted at the Library of Congress.

Pearl of the Orient

Evan — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:45:52 +0000

This public domain advertisement is from the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division. The subject is a young girl sitting on a red velvet cushion in front of an ornately framed mirror. She is drawing long strings of pearls from a fancy gilded box and winding them around her head and shoulders. The product being sold in this ad is assumed to be pearls, but the place of sale is not clear. This advertisement was published as a tobacco label.

The pre-1923 publication date associated with this advertisement indicates that this image is in the public domain.

4 megabyte TIFF. Hosted at the Library of Congress.