This beautiful Ivory Soap ad from 1914 is a wonderful example of just how much work and talent went into advertisements. The illustration was by Katharine R. Wireman, who did the Fourth of July-themed 1924 cover below.

This ad was by artist Leslie Thrasher, who did twenty-three Saturday Evening Post covers. In front of a billboard for Fisk Tires, a silly boy with his toy dog is mocking the fancy society lady walking her dog.

This is part of a two-page ad in 1924 for Palm Beach Suits. “The older man in this picture is wearing the wrong clothes for hot weather,” reads the ad. “The younger man knows what a difference the right clothes for hot weather will make.” The artist behind the ad was George Brehm, who did nine Post covers and numerous inside drawings, including illustrations for stories by his fellow Hoosier, Booth Tarkington. His cover below is from 1935:

This 1920 ad for Edison Mazda Lamps (General Electric) features a boy and his dog – could it be the work of Norman Rockwell? It is indeed. Rockwell did a series of beautiful art for Edison Mazda ads, as well as for many other companies.

The beauty of the ad was not only visual. The text waxed eloquent:

Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer live here; the Knights of the Round Table; the Pirates of Treasure Island, and the brave gentlemen of Ivanhoe.

They will be part of your boy’s life forever, if only you are wise. Whatever else your bedroom may have, put books and an Edison Mazda lamp at the head of each bed.

For a lamp is a magic thing. By its light every lad may be Aladdin. He opens his book, touches the lamp, and the genii appear.

 

Baseball Fight – James Williamson

We’ve shown you baseball covers before, but not one as dignified and touching as this one, which depicts a baseball team standing at attention for the national anthem. Francis Scott Key would be proud. At least until he noticed that this is a fold-out cover (see below).

Baseball Fight (PART 2) – James Williamson

Well, as the editors pointed out, Francis Scott Key did say, “Conquer we must, when our cause it is just.” However, I suspect Key wasn’t thinking of a free-for-all over a questionable call in a baseball game. Artist James Williamson did eight Post covers in the late 1950s and early ’60s. Or is that eight-and-a-half?

Watching Baseball Through a Fence – Worth Brehm

This rare 1908 cover shows another sort of baseball free-for-all. Honestly, they should put more knotholes in fences—a guy can barely squeeze in for a look-see. This was by artist Worth Brehm.

Knothole Baseball – Norman Rockwell

Fifty years later, Norman Rockwell shows us the view from the knothole. Most knotholes are nature made, but sometimes a trusty pocketknife or stone would help nature along when no one was looking. Unless some rat caretaker covered it up by nailing a piece of tin over the hole, you had a great viewing spot. Ever realistic, Rockwell’s wooden planks are so true to life, you can almost smell the wood. And ever playful, he “carved” his signature into the fence.

Boy’s Baseball Team – Eugene Iverd

A boy’s baseball team, 1926. We’ve shown great covers of boys by Post artist Eugene Iverd, and this one is a gem. The artist captures every boy’s character, and we see some of the same faces over and over again in covers showing boys rafting or throwing snowballs or whatever groups of lads do. (Search “Art and Literature” for Eugene Iverd for some beautiful covers of kids.)

Fly Ball – E.M. Jackson

It’s a high fly ball and it’s being caught by… Gramps! This 1923 cover is by E.M. Jackson, one of several Post artists often mistaken for Rockwell. Oh, and guys, love the straw boater hats!

Two Boys Playing Baseball – George Brehm

Seriously, so many baseball covers, so little time. But here’s another rare one for you from a 1924 Country Gentleman issue (CG was a sister publication of the Post‘s). These two farm boys spoiling for a game look completely natural. As an interesting aside, this issue featured “an interview with President Coolidge.” Reprints of Country Gentleman and Saturday Evening Post covers are available at curtispublishing.com. Comment on your favorite below!