Famous artists, when they weren't painting the covers for the magazines, paid their bills by doing art for advertisers. Some of the things they did can stand up with the best of their covers, and much of it is fascinating today for what it tells us about life and popular culture of the past. This is a small door that opens up into a very large cathedral of art.
Topic: magazine
Advertisements for meat, corn flakes, candy bars, flour, beer, wine, spirits, broccoli, peanut butter: Here they are.
Topic: magazine
Here we find pulps devoted to the adventurous thrills that all their readers hoped might be theirs some day, or else just lived vicariously in the thrilling dreams of others. Danger! Warfare! Frontiers! Mysterious messages and treacherous missions against hopeless odds!
Topic: magazine
Begun in 1910 as a way for publisher Ridgway to tap into a new market, it specialized in stories of danger and thrills. At this time other pulp and popular magazines contained a wide variety of stories ranging from danger to romance (even when these are not the same thing). Its creation was a logical response to the success of pulps like ARGOSY, which by 1910 were selling hundreds of thousands of copies of each issue; but the focus on adventure was something new. It survived, in one form or...
Topic: magazine
Automobile ads kept magazines going through good times and hard. High-ticket items, they could afford to pay for color reproduction when that was too expensive for most other products. Everybody knows something about cars! Some of these ads were created by the best artists in the business. And some of them are just fun to look at as nostalgia; or, if you prefer, ancient history. Trucks here, too. Also wagons and carriages. If you like these, check out this great website of scans of...
Topic: magazine
A noxious weed, and an important part of the American economy in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, tobacco advertising paid for many an editorial lunch and kept lots of artists employed.
Topic: magazine
Clothing and fashions pay the bills at our department stores and shopping malls. We pay the bills for our clothing and fashions. And advertisements in magazines told us what we were going to buy (or make), and why.
Topic: magazine
Mainstays of the advertising pages were personal items such as toiletries, beauty aids, perfumes, bath and facial soaps, and the like. Human interactions are important: Flowers, cards, notes.
Topic: magazine
Here are the ads for the common everyday household things you need to have around to keep the place clean and running. And also the objects of beauty that make life worthwhile. A little bit of decoration, a little bit of dirt removal.
Topic: magazine
19,051
19K
image
eye 19,051
favorite 41
comment 0
The (undated) first issue of Hugh Hefner's revolutionary magazine, the one with the famous center spread of Marilyn Monroe. Artist: Source: eBay seller powerangers Restoration by: magscanner
Topics: Men's Magazines, Playboy, magazine covers, vintage magazines, advertising art, vintage...
Audio, and early video, and records, and entertainment. The beginnings of an industry that is still with us, slowly engulfing (or being engulfed by) the computer industry.
Topic: magazine
Art prints have been around as long as printing has been around. Film, movies, cinema, as an art that moves, only a short time, but fully the memory of living humans. Books and magazines have been the subject of ads as long as the memory of humankind. Or so it would seem. Not only did magazines run ads for themselves and for other titles from the same publisher, they often ran ads for totally unconnected magazine titles. Sometimes they sold the space to the other publisher, and sometimes they...
Topic: magazine
Health and medicine ads have supported numberless magazines over the years. Some publishers refused patent medicine ads, and some got rich on them. Ditto for equipment, which can range from something as straightforward as crutches to something as questionable and as "Violet Rays". Techniques can be as simple as yoga and as complex as sequestration in a private hospital.
Topic: magazine
Build a transportation system, and people and things will travel. Here are ads for all things related.
Topic: magazine
Magazines aimed at men. A lot of cheesecake and spicy stuff, with a lot of adventure and sweat. You know what you're looking for here.
Topic: magazine
Bicycles became vastly popular in the late 19th century and paved the way (sorry!) for automobiles by creating a population that wanted good, smooth, hard-surfaced roads and plenty of them. Motorcycles were an adaption that combined the best and worst of the two. And then there were motorbikes, and scooters, and any motorized conveyance that could spring full-blown from the head of the American backyard inventor.
Topic: magazine
Advertisements for outdoor and indoor sports and equipment for them. Guns, rods, racquets, balls; the list is endless.
Topic: magazine
2,926
2.9K
image
eye 2,926
favorite 8
comment 0
Mary Collins Source: eBay seller unclecrickey, via Croaker
Topics: Men's Magazines, See, magazine covers, vintage magazines, advertising art, vintage advertisements
This archive is about art in vintage magazines, but there weren't actually that many vintage magazines about art and design. Even if you throw Antiques into the pot, the number is small. Don't worry; it may be small, but what's here will be of great interest.
Topics: magazine art, design, art
957
957
image
eye 957
favorite 3
comment 0
Portrait of Hedy Lamarr. Content: "Should Women Feel Sorry for Alice Faye?" and "The Real Reason Why the Lane Sisters Broke Up." Source: Dave Wills, who sells on eBay as dwills1000, and has an eBay storefront "Dave's Odds and Ends" Restoration by: magscanner
Topics: Movies, TV, and Radio Magazines, Silver Screen, Hollywood, scandal, divorce
Pens and pencils and paper and office supplies. Now we have major national chains providing these materials to the end consumer. Back in the day we needed to see ads like these to decide what to buy. Hey, we still do.
Topic: magazine
2,101
2.1K
Dec 12, 2018
12/18
by
Franklin Booth
image
eye 2,101
favorite 9
comment 0
Artist: Franklin Booth Source: eBay seller ThomasC at American Art Archives, which also has its own wonderful website about American illustrators
Topics: Humor Magazines, Life, the humor magazine, magazine covers, vintage magazines, advertising art,...
Ad for Kellogg's Toasted Corn Flakes, from the May, 1915 issue of GOOD HOUSEKEEPING. This looks like one of J. C. Leyendecker's paintings for Kellogg's.
Topics: Advertising Art in Magazines, Food and Beverages, Breakfast!, child, spooning
20,679 physicians say "Luckies are less irritating," with number certified by Lybrand. A man in a white jersey says it, so it must be true. Ad for Lucky Strike, published in the August, 1930 issue of GOLDEN BOOK. Artist: Source: Cynde Georgen, Trail End Historic Site, Sheridan Wyoming Restoration by: Cynde Georgen
Topics: Advertising Art in Magazines, Tobacco Products, Cigarette Ads, endorsement, lie, statistic
Toys. Games. Let's play.
Topic: magazine
3,882
3.9K
image
eye 3,882
favorite 16
comment 0
There were at least three issues of this pulp, but even the experts don't have much to say about it, except "rare to very rare".
Topics: Rare Pulps, magazine covers, vintage magazines, advertising art, vintage advertisements
864
864
Dec 19, 2018
12/18
by
J. C. Leyendecker
image
eye 864
favorite 3
comment 0
Goodbye Summer, as a rich young woman, carrying a bundle of flowers and being led by a small dog, flounces along behind a black railroad porter weighed down with her four luggage bags and a golf bag. Artist: J. C. Leyendecker Source: eBay seller powerangers Restoration by: magscanner
Topics: Weekly Magazines, Saturday Evening Post, magazine covers, vintage magazines, advertising art,...
Ad for Arrow Collars and Shirts, with a man standing to display the Trump model shirt and an appropriate collar. Published in the June 7, 1928 issue of the HARVARD LAMPOON. Artist: J. C. Leyendecker Source: Cynde Georgen, Trail End Historic Site, Sheridan Wyoming Restoration by: Cynde Georgen
Topics: Advertising Art in Magazines, Clothing and Fashions, Men's Clothing and Accessories, model,...
Ad for Jell-O, with the same girl as in -1918A smiling enigmatically as she contemplates six elaborate Jello desserts you can make. Published in the May, 1919 issue of the LADIES' HOME JOURNAL.
Topics: Advertising Art in Magazines, Food and Beverages, Dessert, magazine covers, vintage magazines,...
Beautiful ad for Holeproof Silk Hosiery for women, with a model sitting on a wall in front of a thousand pink roses. Published in the October, 1924 issue of COSMOPOLITAN. Artist: Coles Phillips Source: Charles Perrien Restoration by: Charles Perrien
Topics: Advertising Art in Magazines, Clothing and Fashions, Women's Hosiery, magazine covers, vintage...
2,206
2.2K
image
eye 2,206
favorite 9
comment 0
Naked woman wrapped in a bouquet with roses; a "rose among the flowers." Artist: Source: Curious Book Shop; photograph by magscanner Restoration by: Chad Wicker
Topics: Humor Magazines, Capt. Billy's Whiz Bang, metaphor, nude, nudity, seduction
1,314
1.3K
Dec 19, 2018
12/18
by
Herbert Paus
image
eye 1,314
favorite 10
comment 0
Artist: Herbert Paus Source: Collector and illustration website proprietor Doug Allewell Image Processing by: Collector and illustration website proprietor Doug Allewell
Topics: Humor Magazines, Life, the humor magazine, magazine covers, vintage magazines, advertising art,...
Without cameras the magazineart.org would be a lot smaller and less interesting. Hail photography!
Topic: magazine
Woman in blue silk/satiny dress shows off her legs in fine silk stockings. Behind her is a painting or fabric sample in complementary colors, atop a brown cabinet offering contrast. The art does the selling, and the text is minimal. Published in a 1923 issue of the AMERICAN MAGAZINE. Artist: Coles Phillips Source: eBay seller daysoffuturepast, who also sells printed materials from her personal website. Restoration by: jess at daysoffuturepast
Topics: Advertising Art in Magazines, Clothing and Fashions, Women's Hosiery, class, slinky, gams, beauty,...
1,719
1.7K
image
eye 1,719
favorite 16
comment 0
Woman in harlequin-like pattern, holding black parasol and with purple and black ostrich feather in her hat, stands displaying the fashions. Title: "Golden Jubilee Number: Fifty years ago Ebenezer Butterick invented the First Paper Pattern and founded the Great Fashion House which bears his name."
Topics: Women's Magazines, Delineator, Carl Kleinschmidt
1,074
1.1K
Dec 19, 2018
12/18
by
Coles Phillips
image
eye 1,074
favorite 0
comment 0
Artist: Coles Phillips Source: eBay seller ThomasC at American Art Archives, which also has its own wonderful website about American illustrators
Topics: Humor Magazines, Life, the humor magazine, magazine covers, vintage magazines, advertising art,...
2,704
2.7K
image
eye 2,704
favorite 20
comment 0
Two nearly naked Greco-Roman wrestlers. PHYSICAL CULTURE "Points the Way to Virile Manhood and Superb Womanhood," and is "The Guide to Real Efficiency." Artist: Source: Collector and author John Locke Restoration by: magscanner
Topics: Health and Fitness Magazines, Physical Culture, nude, competition, Olympics, gay
1,400
1.4K
image
eye 1,400
favorite 0
comment 0
Nudist people read newspapers, drink coffee and cocktails, and talk amongst themselves. Content: "Baltic Night," by Paul Morand, and items by Sinclair Lewis, Turgeniev, William Seabrook, Richard W. Child, Smollett, and Stephen Leacock. Artist: Source: Cynde Georgen, Trail End Historic Site, Sheridan Wyoming Restoration by: Cynde Georgen
Topics: General Fiction Pulps, Golden Book, drama, struggle, nudity, compassion, Russian
1,637
1.6K
image
eye 1,637
favorite 4
comment 0
Toy invention! Big money for home workshop fans. Man with wooden animals, including a Donald Duck (wonder if he licensed it?) Source: Grenville Abernethy, who sells on eBay as banjoflier, and has an eBay store as "model aviation magazines".
Topics: Science and Technology Magazines, Mechanix Illustrated, magazine covers, vintage magazines,...
953
953
image
eye 953
favorite 2
comment 0
Artist: Source: eBay seller ThomasC at American Art Archives, which also has its own wonderful website about American illustrators
Topics: Humor Magazines, Life, the humor magazine, magazine covers, vintage magazines, advertising art,...
2,643
2.6K
image
eye 2,643
favorite 4
comment 0
39 home workshop projects; complete plans for 15 foot canoe. Source: Grenville Abernethy, who sells on eBay as banjoflier, and has an eBay store as "model aviation magazines".
Topics: Science and Technology Magazines, Mechanix Illustrated, magazine covers, vintage magazines,...
304
304
image
eye 304
favorite 2
comment 0
Source: Frank M. Robinson Image Restoration: magscanner
Topics: Rare Pulps, magazine covers, vintage magazines, advertising art, vintage advertisements
2,596
2.6K
image
eye 2,596
favorite 8
comment 0
Photo of Lilly St. Cyr in even less, strategically hidden behind content banner. Nudists hold a convention. Glamour girl comedienne. Wild gorilla on a spree. Source: eBay seller unclecrickey Restoration by: magscanner
Topics: Men's Magazines, Laff, magazine covers, vintage magazines, advertising art, vintage advertisements
Artist: Source: Vintage Magazine Seller ephemeraforever.com Restoration: magscanner
Topics: Adventure Pulps, Adventure magazine, magazine covers, vintage magazines, advertising art, vintage...
ROMANCE specialized in romance and love stories set among exotic and distant lands, in historical settings, and in the face of danger and adventure. This was the second pulp magazine published by Ridgway, a company which had been successful first with EVERYBODY'S MAGAZINE, a mass-market title printed on quality paper and aimed at both men and women, and secondly with ADVENTURE, a purely pulp magazine aimed primarily at men. It debuted in November 1919, and at first published mostly fiction in...
Topic: magazine
Celebrated screen star John Gilbert, pictured here in a celebrity endorsement. No text except for slogans: "Reach for a Lucky instead of a sweet," "It's Toasted," and statements "Toasting takes out that bite and throat irritation," and "No throat irritation -- no cough." Published in the September, 1929 issue of PHOTOPLAY. Artist: Source: Charles Perrien Restoration by: Charles Perrien
Topics: Advertising Art in Magazines, Tobacco Products, Cigarette Ads, cancer, coughing, retching,...
Five beautiful women watch a cherub playing with a basket of roses and a bar of White Rose. No. 4711, perfection of purity and perfume, from a German company, Ferd. Mülhens of Cologne [Köln]. Published in a 1909 issue of the BURR MCINTOSH MONTHLY. Artist: Source: eBay seller daysoffuturepast, who also sells printed materials from her personal website. Restoration by: jess at daysoffuturepast
Topics: Advertising Art in Magazines, Personal and Human Aspects, Facial and Toilet Soap, fragrance, happy,...
Published in the May, 1912 issue of MODERN PRISCILLA.
Topics: Advertising Art in Magazines, Food and Beverages, Soft Drinks, Non-Alcoholic, magazine covers,...
883
883
image
eye 883
favorite 7
comment 0
The Christmas offering, inscribed "Laus Deo".
Topics: Weekly Magazines, Sunday Magazine, magazine covers, vintage magazines, advertising art, vintage...
149
149
image
eye 149
favorite 0
comment 0
Portraits of George Burns and Gracie Allen, "Oh, there you go again, George." Content: "Here's the Real Ruth Etting," "Why [Jack] Benny Laughs," "Crazy Burns and Allen," and "Al Smith ... Why I Came Into 'Raddio'." Artist: Source: Robert, KD4HSH Restoration by: magscanner
Topics: Movies, TV, and Radio Magazines, Radio Mirror, comedians, politics, president
1,222
1.2K
Dec 13, 2018
12/18
by
Frederic Burr Opper
image
eye 1,222
favorite 2
comment 0
Alexandre Cabanel painting large canvas of Adam and Eve being thrown out of the Garden of Eden, modified; as he does not want to run up against Anthony Comstock and his censorship crusade again. Instead of nudity with fig leaves, the two are wearing layers of clothing. Commemorates the 1887 porn raid on the art gallery of Knoedler & Company. Artist: Frederic Burr Opper Source: Barbara Dietrich, at Dietrich's Vault. Restoration by: magscanner
Topics: Humor Magazines, Puck, nude, censor, eroticism, blue law, pornography, art
970
970
Dec 15, 2018
12/18
by
K. Pyle
image
eye 970
favorite 6
comment 1
Artist: K. Pyle Source: Jeff Kaylin Image Processing by: magscanner
favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite ( 1 reviews )
Topics: Women's Magazines, Woman's Home Companion, Woman's Home Companion, K. Pyle, New Year, chick, egg,...
1,434
1.4K
image
eye 1,434
favorite 10
comment 0
Young woman swinging a badminton racquet, out in a meadow full of daisies; daisies shown on either side of her in a triptych
Topics: Women's Magazines, Designer, sports, competition, field, flowers, exercise, enjoyment, outdoors,...
1,461
1.5K
image
eye 1,461
favorite 6
comment 0
Madman enjoys putting naked women in cages, with slave collars on their necks, but apparently forgets to feed them. Artist: Source: Brian Bennett Restoration by: magscanner
Topics: Horror, Terror, and Shudder Pulps, Terror Tales, magazine covers, vintage magazines, advertising...
811
811
Dec 19, 2018
12/18
by
John La Gatta
image
eye 811
favorite 15
comment 0
Very Deco forerunner out of Nouveau, as La Gatta shows a woman tennis player in "Rare Form" by means of shadows and fade-aways, as well simple geometric forms. Artist: John La Gatta Source: Tom Harris, collector/seller, on eBay as tabasco_life Restoration by: magscanner
Topics: Humor Magazines, Life, the humor magazine, magazine covers, vintage magazines, advertising art,...
Find here ads for instruments, sheet music, musical books, accessories, concerts; anything music-related. However, note that phonographs and record players and gramophones have their own section, with radios, televisions and the like.
Topic: magazine
499
499
Dec 19, 2018
12/18
by
Coles Phillips
image
eye 499
favorite 6
comment 0
Artist: Coles Phillips Source: eBay sellers Image Processing by: magscanner
Topics: Humor Magazines, Life, the humor magazine, LIFE the humor magazine, jokes, cartoons, funny stories,...
362
362
Dec 20, 2018
12/18
by
A. du Vannes
image
eye 362
favorite 2
comment 0
Woman watches herself in the mirror as she tries on an earring, with pearls selected and put aside. She's going out tonight. "Fall Fashion Number." Artist: A. du Vannes Source: Charles Perrien Restoration by: Charles Perrien
Topics: Women's Magazines, Ladies' World, dressing, evening, formal, party, night out
761
761
image
eye 761
favorite 13
comment 0
Source: Mariangela Buch Image Restoration: magscanner Our Sponsors:
Topics: Women's Magazines, Vogue, garden, elegant, flowers, walk, path
686
686
Dec 19, 2018
12/18
by
Coles Phillips
image
eye 686
favorite 2
comment 0
Artist: Coles Phillips Source: eBay sellers Image Processing by: magscanner Tags & Keywords: Christmas, cards, mail, winter, snow, fade-away
Topics: Humor Magazines, Life, the humor magazine, LIFE the humor magazine, jokes, cartoons, funny stories,...
465
465
Dec 15, 2018
12/18
by
Coles Phillips
image
eye 465
favorite 3
comment 0
Fadeaway of woman in purple blending into the purple of her sun umbrella, and purple shadow, as she kneels on the beach. Content: "The Dual Alliance," by Marjorie Benton Cooke. Artist: Coles Phillips Source: ebay seller powerangers Restoration by: magscanner
Topics: Women's Magazines, Good Housekeeping, summer, water, sand, vacation
584
584
Dec 19, 2018
12/18
by
Coles Phillips
image
eye 584
favorite 5
comment 0
Extreme Fadeaway example, as a woman in green sits sewing with black thread, all but a tiny part of her clothing blending invisibly into the background. Artist: Coles Phillips Source: Nancy Ellis Restoration by: Nancy Ellis & magscanner
Topics: Humor Magazines, Life, the humor magazine, needle, sew, fancy work, detail, disappear
632
632
Dec 13, 2018
12/18
by
John Newton Howitt
image
eye 632
favorite 2
comment 0
Man in red rubber and goggles seems to prefer women frozen in blocks of ice, and is about to make a new friend extra cold. Artist: John Newton Howitt Source: Heritage Auctions Restoration by: magscanner
Topics: Horror, Terror, and Shudder Pulps, Horror Stories, magazine covers, vintage magazines, advertising...
687
687
image
eye 687
favorite 3
comment 0
Sidewalk entrance to house through front gate, with lots of flowers planted in the front yard and red tile on the roof. Artist: Source: eBay seller daysoffuturepast, who also sells printed materials from her personal website. Restoration by: magscanner
Topics: House and Garden Magazines, Better Homes and Gardens, Spanish, mediterranean, architecture
960
960
image
eye 960
favorite 8
comment 0
The telephone, technology's gift to lovers on Valentine's Day. Two hearts, and a cupid listening in on the party line. Artist: Source: Photographer PopKulture Restoration by: magscanner
Topics: Trade Magazines and Trade Journals, Variety Collection of Trade Magazines, magazine covers, vintage...
Makes kids husky. Or at least strong enough to dig your sidewalk out from a two-foot snowfall. The other kids have earmuffs or earflaps on their hats. Published in the February, 1920 issue of the PEOPLE'S HOME JOURNAL. Artist: Source: Charles Perrien Restoration by: Charles Perrien
Topics: Advertising Art in Magazines, Food and Beverages, Breakfast!, winter, shovel, snow-shovel,...
478
478
Dec 19, 2018
12/18
by
Coles Phillips
image
eye 478
favorite 1
comment 0
Lady in Grey plays on the lute "Without Accompaniment," sitting on the wicker garden chair with no one around to care for her. Artist: Coles Phillips Source: eBay seller American Art Archives Restoration by: magscanner
Topics: Humor Magazines, Life, the humor magazine, loneliness, romance, empty, futile, sad
873
873
image
eye 873
favorite 7
comment 0
Back to the stylization of late art noveau, with a woman holding a batch of firecrackers, and standing in front of a string of Chinese lanterns. Presumably the firecrackers represent Fourth of July fireworks.
Topics: Women's Magazines, Delineator, fashion, style, clothing, sewing, patterns, home, jewelry,...
439
439
Dec 19, 2018
12/18
by
Coles Phillips
image
eye 439
favorite 1
comment 0
"Fade-Away" painting of a woman holding up an oar, against a black hexagon. "A Safe Guide?" Perhaps someone can explain this to us. Artist: Coles Phillips Source: Tom Harris, collector/seller, on eBay as tabasco_life Restoration by: magscanner
Topics: Humor Magazines, Life, the humor magazine, boating, romance, danger
542
542
Dec 19, 2018
12/18
by
Coles Phillips
image
eye 542
favorite 3
comment 0
"Fade-Away" painting of a woman sitting legs splayed on the floor, holding up a doll-like man, considered "A Troublesome Toy." What is she painting with the paints in that paint-box? Artist: Coles Phillips Source: Tom Harris, collector/seller, on eBay as tabasco_life Restoration by: magscanner
Topics: Humor Magazines, Life, the humor magazine, magazine covers, vintage magazines, advertising art,...
Every picture tells a story, and this 1946 ad from FIELD AND STREAM tells one worthy of a SATURDAY EVENING POST cover. So, anyway, just has hooked whom with a fishing line? Looks like a tricky way for the fisherman to meet the fisherbabe. No indication who the artist was, but we're pretty sure we've seen his work elsewhere. Artist: Source: Renita Ivey Restoration by: Renita Ivey
Topics: Advertising Art in Magazines, Food and Beverages, Beer, magazine covers, vintage magazines,...
516
516
Dec 12, 2018
12/18
by
Marland Stone
image
eye 516
favorite 2
comment 0
Portrait of Miriam Hopkins. Content: "Love and the Leading Ladies," by Ed Sullivan. Artist: Marland Stone Source: Dave Wills, who sells on eBay as dwills1000, and has an eBay storefront "Dave's Odds and Ends" Restoration by: magscanner
Topics: Movies, TV, and Radio Magazines, Silver Screen, movies, cinema, Hollywood
1,259
1.3K
Dec 20, 2018
12/18
by
Harrison Fisher
image
eye 1,259
favorite 8
comment 0
Woman being fitted for her bridal dress, while a couple of children sneak a look in through the slighty opened door. Artist: Harrison Fisher Source: the Antique Paper Shop Restoration by: magscanner
Topics: Women's Magazines, Ladies' Home Journal, magazine covers, vintage magazines, advertising art,...
652
652
image
eye 652
favorite 6
comment 0
Photo of Jerry Ewing of the Diamond Horseshoe. Strip-tease comes back to Broadway. Source: eBay seller unclecrickey Restoration by: magscanner
Topics: Men's Magazines, Laff, magazine covers, vintage magazines, advertising art, vintage advertisements
Food cooked in deep fat, to be perfect.... Here's a cake, and here's the pail of lard that made it. Published in the August, 1919 issue of the LADIES' HOME JOURNAL. Source: Mariangela Buch Restoration by: Mariangela Buch
Topics: Advertising Art in Magazines, Food and Beverages, Ingredients, fat, shortening, meat, animal,...
