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Coffee Essence in Colonial Singapore
“Coffee essence” are what the three big characters at the top say. The bottle, however, just has “cold coffee.” This coffee could quench your thirst
Cruisin’ in a Chevy Six in Colonial Vietnam
A six-cylinder car which is sumptuous and affordable for everyone. Everyone’s been waiting a six-cylinder car which is really powerful, pleasant to look at and
Thai Laxative Advertisements
These two advertisements are from the late 1930s or early 1940s. The text in both of them is the same. It says, “irregular bowel movements
Itu baik! This is good!
Someone pointed out that none of the advertisements from Singapore have Malay language in them. To be fair, I have been looking at Chinese newspapers,
Tobacco Imperialism in Colonial Singapore Continued
“Coming from England, they’re always fresh.” This sure looks like a coup de grace to me – a certificate from the Institute of Hygiene verifying
More Thai Hair Cream
Here is another nice advertisement for hair cream from Thailand in 1939. Like the previous one it says that it is suitable for athletes. I
Tobacco Imperialism in Colonial Singapore
“Coming from England, they’re always fresh.” I think this advertisement from 1930 needs to be seen in relation to the one below on “Tobacco Nationalism.”
Tobacco Nationalism in Colonial Singapore
“Produced by Chinese – Suitable for Chinese to Smoke” That’s what the main caption says here. In the 1930s there were similar ads in China.
Contrasting Fashions in 1939 Thailand
Sambun: “I like women who wear patterned textiles. Look over there . . .[can’t make the rest out].” Chan: “That’s right. I agree, if [she]
Thai Textile Advertisement
“Lion Brand Textiles good fabric – clear colors -various colors the colors are guaranteed not to fade Ladies should wear textiles by Lion Brand sold
The Secret of a Thai Beauty Queen
This advertisement is from 1939. It says: WE ARE NOT SO CRAZY as to claim that Waasii patterned textiles (phalaai) are the reason why a
Athletes and Hair Cream
This advertisement from Siam in 1939 claims that Delavelle’s Creamoil is “suitable for athletes,” as of course are cigarettes. Sweating profusely in the tropical heat, on the
Health Secrets from 1932 Singapore
If your lacking in vital energy, drink some Bournville cocoa. It will make you strong and healthy. Then you can head off to the beach
Tonic Wine in Colonial Singapore
Wincarnis is a tonic wine which apparently is still produced. It was popular in places like Singapore where Chinese used it to give women a
Fashionable Smokers in Colonial Singapore
“Fashionable folks toke fashionable smokes” might be a way to translate this advertisement from 1932 and still capture the rhyme (folks and smokes). Fashions may
Women Reading in Colonial Vietnam
This is one of my favorite images. It is from the cover of a journal which was published in Saigon in the late 1920s and
Beka Records in Colonial Vietnam
Looking around on the Internet I found that Beka Records supposedly only lasted from 1903-1925. This advertisement from Vietnam, however, dates from the 1930s. The
Ovaltine in Siam
This is a 1934 advertisement from Siam for Ovaltine – “There is only Ovaltine.” At the bottom it says something like “Ovaltine, a delicious beverage of
The Benefits of Cocoa
If you drink cocoa, your kids will be healthy and your family will be happy. Those are the benifits of drinking cocoa according to this
