Interesting Posters of Cigarette Ads in the 19th Century

Cigarette advertising in the 19th century was influenced by the Industrial Revolution, which made mass production possible and led to cigarettes becoming more affordable. Ads used illustrations, often depicting exotic or glamorous imagery, to suggest sophistication and luxury.

While initially targeted at the upper class, advertising began to reach a broader audience as production increased. Most early ads targeted men, associating smoking with masculinity, adventure, and status. Brands also began developing distinct identities, sometimes using royal or foreign imagery to enhance prestige.

Here below is a set of interesting posters that shows cigarette ads in the 19th century.

El Prínciple de Gales, Key West Cigars, 1871

Turkish cross-cut cigarettes, 1880

Allen & Ginter, Fans of the Period, 1885

American eagle, chew American eagle fine cut, smoke eagle cavendish, 1885

Sweet Violet Cigarettes, Globe Tobacco Co., 1886

Newly opened in 1887, "Talisman" Tobacco Factory, St. Petersburg

Allen and Ginter, City Flags, Viriginia Brights Cigarettes, 1888

Cigarrillos El Perú, La Farándula Universal, Lima, 1888

Duke’s Cameo Cigarettes, Manufactured by W. Duke Sons & Co., 1890

Kimball's High Grade Cigarettes, 1890

Papier à cigarettes. Le Lapin. Papier duc extra supérieur. Paris. Lyon. Anvers, 1890

Papier à Cigarettes Riz Abadie, 1891

Cigarrillos El Perú, Roldán y Cia., 1892

Abadie, Papiers à Cigarettes, circa 1895

Ad for Job Cigarette Paper, circa 1895

Job Cigarettes Poster France, circa 1895

Papier à Cigarettes Job, 1895

Papier à Cigarettes Job, 1896

Cigaretten Laferme, Dresden, 1898

'Plowman' Cigarettes,. M. I. Bostanzhoglo Co., Moscow, circa 1890s

Cigarrillos Dandicito, circa 1890s

Etrennes et jouets, Grands Magasins des Cordeliers, Lyon, circa 1890s

Old English Curve Cut Pipe Tobacco, 1899

R. C. Brown New York Cigars, "After Shrimping, Preparing to Go Home", circa 1890s

The Tobacco Factory Association recommends the newly released Cigarettes, Dmitry Donskoy, circa 1890s

Tobacco Factory, A. N. Shaposhnikova, St. Petersburg Recommends Smyrna and Cabinet cigarettes, circa 1890s