#ColonialAdverts
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historyclippings.bsky.social
I don't do this too often, but I love these #ColonialAdverts Dr. Studer frequently posts.

A really great account if you're into ephemera.
drninastuder.bsky.social Dr Nina S. Studer @drninastuder.bsky.social · Jan 15
There were also #ColonialAdverts for the anisette "Phénix" that included some Arabic - which is rare! This one here, found in "L'Echo de la presse musulmane" - a publication in French & Arabic, notably - advertised in 1936 in both languages for the "famous" Algerian Phénix. #DrinkingStudies 🗃️🍸
January 15, 2025 at 12:07 PM
drninastuder.bsky.social
I've also always wondered about the claim that it was "drunk all over the world"! #HistoryOfWine #DrinkingStudies #FrenchColonialism #HistoryOfAlgeria #ColonialAdverts 🗃️🍷
February 1, 2025 at 1:57 PM
drninastuder.bsky.social
I am starting to transfer my old tweets on #ColonialAdverts to Bluesky! Many used sexualised images to advertise drinks in colonial newspapers. Advert for lemon juice Valencia with a Spanish (?) woman in a 1927 issue of L'Afrique du Nord Illustrée available via Gallica gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/b...
Black and white drawing, showing a woman looking directly at the reader. Her head is veiled, but she might not wear clothes. She holds up two lemons over her breasts.
November 7, 2024 at 11:16 AM
drninastuder.bsky.social
In 1927, the same journal also published this advert for "Imperial Mandarine", showing just the bottle, but with the same intricate border! Amazing to compare this to the ones by Charles Brouty for the same brand from 1928! bsky.app/profile/drni... #ColonialAdverts #Orientalism #FrenchColonialism 🗃️🍸
Black and white drawing, showing a bottle of "Imperial Mandarine", in a laurel wreath. Around the bottle is a border, below it, it says: "Imperial Mandarine" and "Grande liqueur algérienne". Around this whole image is another border consisting of intricate Orientalised ornaments. This image can be found in "L'Algérie illustrée", published on the 01.10.1927, p. 22.
February 7, 2025 at 7:15 AM
drninastuder.bsky.social
One of my favourite bizarre #ColonialAdverts for drinks - by the prolific Charles Brouty! - is this one for the "Eau du Marabout" brand from Algiers from the 1920s, with the description that the water has been "sterilised by ultraviolet rays"! #DrinkingStudies #FrenchColonialism 🗃️🍸
The drawing shows a man with orange skin, in a white lab coat, holding up a bottle of the mineral water "Eau du Marabout". The person has a bizarre mechanical contraption on his head, which end in glasses. Rays shoot out from his eyes, into the bottle of mineral water.
December 2, 2024 at 11:00 AM
drninastuder.bsky.social
They are rare, but #ColonialAdverts showing a shared consumption of alcohol between French coloniser & North African colonised fascinate me - who were they meant to appeal to? This advert is by Gouzènes & Cie, in Béjaïa, for a "Liqueur de Mandarine". #DrinkingStudies #AlcoholInIslam 🗃️🍸
This drawn advert depicts two Algerian men, in traditional clothes and a Frenchman in a red uniform sitting at a table, outside. They each have a glass of "Liqueur de Mandarine" in their hands and a bottle of it can be seen on the table. In the Background, three Algerian women, two of whom are veiled, are harvesting tangerines.
November 25, 2024 at 7:14 AM
drninastuder.bsky.social
The Arabist Carlos Serrano found this amazing Spanish advert for "Mezquita" beer from 1940. The slogan is: "Forbidden according to the Quran but it's so delicious." Incredible! #Orientalism #DrinkingStudies #Colonialism #ColonialAdverts #AlcoholInIslam 🗃️🍸🍺
The drawn image shows a bearded man in blue North African clothes. Behind him is a vague landscape, possibly showing the Alhambra in city of Cordoba. In his right hand, the man holds up a glass of beer. His left hand is also held up. He looks very blissful. Above him, it says, in Spanish: "Forbidden according to the Quran but it's so delicious." Below him, it says: Cervezas "La Mezquita. S.A. Capital 3.000.000 Ptas. Cordoba"
December 9, 2024 at 9:18 AM
drninastuder.bsky.social
This advert for the syrup "Pacha Citron" by Limiñana Frères (also producers of the anisette "Cristal" and of a mint syrup called "Pacha Mint") in Algiers, is another one of these fascinating #ColonialAdverts for drinks. #DrinkingStudies 🗃️🍸
Colour drawing on a dark blue background. It shows the head of a man with a white moustache and white beard and an enormous white turban, looking at you. On the turban, it says "sirop". Below the head, it says in yellow: "Pacha Citron". Below that, in white "Limiñana, Alger".
December 4, 2024 at 12:31 PM
drninastuder.bsky.social
And yet another rather famous example of #ColonialAdverts for alcohol in North Africa showing the consumption of soldiers. It is amazing how similar all of these adverts are! #DrinkingStudies #MilitaryHistory 🗃️🍸
This drawn image for "Amer Picon" shows a soldier, wearing the uniform of the tirailleurs algériens, in front of a yellow background. He carries a total of six bottles of alcohol in his arms and is smiling broadly. The advert informs its readers that Amer Picon is "le plus riche en quinquina", i.e. "has the most quinine".
December 30, 2024 at 2:47 PM
drninastuder.bsky.social
I've come across a slightly less intricate version of one of my favourite #ColonialAdverts for alcohol in North Africa: It's for the bizarrely named champagne "Mousse d'Islam" (i.e. the "foam of Islam"), by the French artist Charles Brouty (1897-1984), published in 1920 in "L'Écho d'Alger". 🗃️🍸
Drawing in black and white, showing a presumably European woman in a turban, looking towards the reader, while drinking a glass of champagne. Below her, on a black background, it says "Mousse d'Islam", i.e. "foam of Islam". Available via Gallica: https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k7580472p
November 28, 2024 at 7:11 AM
vandawilcox.bsky.social
Have been digging into some Italian #ColonialAdverts lately and they are often mind-boggling! But fascinating to work with
November 11, 2024 at 10:43 AM
david-fieni.bsky.social
Following posts by @drninastuder.bsky.social inspired me to share some of the #colonialadverts, games, and toys that I commonly teach. Much of this I found in the ACHAC archive at the Getty Library. This one is a cut out that French parents gave their kids while they drank Picon Amer added to beer.
Cardboard sheet advertisement of Pikina Picon Amer liqueur with the Taking of Constantine cut out game and historical notes
December 10, 2024 at 5:55 PM
drninastuder.bsky.social
Most often in #ColonialAdverts for coffee, North Africans took on the role of servants. This one for "Salam" coffee makers, showing a North African man holding up a tray while smiling towards the reader, can be found in "L'Afrique Du Nord Illustrée" in December 1928. #DrinkingStudies #Orientalism 🗃️☕
Black and white drawing, showing a North African man in traditional clothes, holding up a tray with a "Salam" coffee maker on it, while smiling towards the reader. The coffee maker has steam coming from it. Below the image are addresses in Paris, Oran and Casablanca. Available via Gallica: https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k5583791k/f6.item
December 13, 2024 at 10:46 AM
drninastuder.bsky.social
Looking at some of the amazing early 20th c. adverts for "Alcool de Menthe de Ricqlès" I've come across the fact that it was also recommended as a toothpaste (commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:R%...) & that made me think of this 1894 advert for "Dentifrice Oriental"! #ColonialAdverts #Orientalism 🗃️
Advert for "Dentifrice Oriental", i.e. "Oriental Toothpaste", showing an Orientalised woman - in Orientalised clothes - with long dark hair, reclining on pillows, looking into a little mirror, which she holds up with her right hand. In her left hand, she has a tooth brush. On a little table in front of her, there is a bottle (of this Oriental Toothpaste) and a glass. Available via: https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O137546/dentifrice-oriental-le-plus-agr%C3%A9able-poster-de-paleologu-jean/dentifrice-oriental-le-plus-agr%C3%A9able-poster-de-paleologu-jean/
November 18, 2024 at 8:20 AM
drninastuder.bsky.social
It is astonishing how widespread & omnipresent #ColonialAdverts for (French) alcohol were in the cities of #ColonialAlgeria. Here is a photograph showing an advert for the apéritif "Amer Picon" on a tram in Algiers in 1920. #DrinkingStudies #FrenchColonialism #AlcoholInIslam 🗃️🍸
Black and white image of a 1920s tram. A group of men are standing in the tram, looking at the photographer, with some of them waving. Above the tram is an advert for "Amer Picon". Behind the tram, you can see a statue, more people and palm trees. Available via Gallica: https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k5583239w/f13.item
November 29, 2024 at 7:13 AM
drninastuder.bsky.social
This 1937 advert for the apéritif Picon still uses the figure of the rider, without the Orientalised Algerian (?) woman, on its labels today. The image is available via bibliotheques-specialisees.paris.fr/ark:/73873/p... #DrinkingStudies #ColonialAdverts #ColonialHistory
Drawn advert for Picon, showing a rider in uniform, holding up a bottle of Picon. The horse is running, its front legs are off the ground. Behind the man, holding on to him, is a woman, veiled, wearing shiny but see-through clothes. Behind them is a North African landscape.
November 7, 2024 at 11:24 AM
drninastuder.bsky.social
I am fascinated by #ColonialAdverts for alcohol that imitate the aesthetics of the Arabic script. A good example for this is this advert for "Mélika", "the great imperial liqueur"!
#Orientalism #FrenchColonialism #DrinkingStudies #AlcoholInIslam #NorthAfrica #Maghreb 🗃️🍸
This drawn advert for "Mélika" shows a huge bottle of the liqueur, standing in the middle of an arc. Behind the bottle is a desert landscape, with palm trees. The letters of "Mélika" are connected and overall, it is clearly meant to imitate the Arabic script. The advert can be found here: http://engival.fr/const-divers-affiche+.htm
November 14, 2024 at 3:56 PM
drninastuder.bsky.social
This one doesn't have any Arabic text - but fascinating how similar the image is! "Rivoire Frères" advertised their vermouth in 1920 (after the 1915 prohibition of their absinthe) with another Orientalised Algerian man on a horse. #DrinkingStudies #ColonialAdverts 🗃️🍸
Black and white drawing of a North African man in North African clothes, on a white horse that rears up onto its hindlegs. He stretches out his left hand to catch a bottle of vermouth. Above them, it says "Phoréa, Vermouth", and to the right of the horse it says "Rivoire Frères". Available via Gallica: https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k55832550/f24.item
December 2, 2024 at 10:57 AM
drninastuder.bsky.social
Other brands chose to incorporate Arabic texts into their #ColonialAdverts. This one for the apéritif "Clacquesin" - from the 1930s? - appears to have been at least partly aimed at Muslim customers, with the Arabic text encouraging readers to drink it. #DrinkingStudies #Orientalism #Colonialism 🗃️🍸
The drawn advert shows a North African man (in traditional clothes, with a sabre on his belt), on a black horse that rears up onto its hindlegs. The man has a rifle in his right hand and a bottle of alcohol in his left hand. He is looking at the bottle. The background shows a blue sky and a North African desert city. Above them, it just says "Clacquesin". Below the horse, it says in Arabic "Drink Clacquesin!" This advert can be found here: http://engival.fr/const-divers-affiche+.htm
November 15, 2024 at 12:00 PM
drninastuder.bsky.social
Another great example is this astonishing 1922 advert for "Mousse d'Islam" (!), an Algerian champagne. The advert depicts a presumably European woman in a turban. Available via Gallica (gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/b...) 🍸 #DrinkingStudies #ColonialAdverts #AlcoholInIslam #ColonialMaghreb #Orientalism
Colonial advert showing a presumably European woman in a turban, looking towards you, while drinking a glass of champagne. Below her, on a black background, it says "Mousse d'Islam", i.e. "foam of Islam". Below the advert, is the following description: "Grands Vins d'Algérie".
November 8, 2024 at 12:33 PM
alfredodallolio.bsky.social
What happened when the fascist regime tried to convice Italians that "coffee is bad"? Nothing good, a lot of ridiculous. buff.ly/rGrYAX8 #fascism #economy #italy #art #ColonialAdverts
Autarchy, drinks and beverages in 1930s Italy
Karkadè, maltoriso and the absurd battle of fascism for food self-sufficiency
open.substack.com
June 17, 2025 at 2:38 PM
paulclammer.bsky.social
I’m fascinated by these old #ColonialAdverts for travel – like this one for the Ligne du Hoggar across the Sahara, which ran from 1933-51. It took 11 days to drive from Algiers to Kano, the longest scheduled bus route in the world at the time.
1930s poster for the Société Algérienne des Transports Tropicaux, adversting the Ligne du Hoggar bus route, from Algiers to Kano. There is a picture of a bus, set against a map of northwest Africa showing the bus route. Black and white photo of a 1930s bus, on the Algiers-Kano route. The Bus is under a tree, with people in north west African dress. Société Algérienne des Transports Tropicaux transport poster from the 1930s, with a graphic in red, yellow and purple showing a bus travelling out of the desert and through a ravine – part of the Ligne du Hoggar trans-Sahara bus route.
December 9, 2024 at 11:01 AM
drninastuder.bsky.social
There were also #ColonialAdverts for the anisette "Phénix" that included some Arabic - which is rare! This one here, found in "L'Echo de la presse musulmane" - a publication in French & Arabic, notably - advertised in 1936 in both languages for the "famous" Algerian Phénix. #DrinkingStudies 🗃️🍸
This advert is a black and white drawing. It shows a middle-aged European woman in elegant clothes in a hat and gloves, seated at a table. In front of her is a glass, a bottle of Phénix and a bottle of water. She has raised her right arm in the air, signaling and smiling. Above her her, it says: "Your aperitif". Below her, it says, in capitals: "Anisette Phénix". Below this, there are a few words in Arabic, advertising for the "famous" Phénix. This advert can be found in "L'Echo de la presse musulmane", published on the 04.07.1936, p. 3.
January 15, 2025 at 9:30 AM
drninastuder.bsky.social
I'd love to learn more about them, Vanda! #ColonialAdverts are such a great & underused source.
November 11, 2024 at 10:45 AM
drninastuder.bsky.social
I am really interested in #ColonialAdverts for "Targui", an Algerian wine by "Maison Eschenauer". This one, from 1931, shows a "Targui" (singular of "Touareg") with a shield, a camel next to him & the sun rising/setting in the back. #DrinkingStudies #FrenchColonialism #NorthAfrica 🗃️🍷
It is a black and white drawn advert, showing two big bottles on each end, followed by three smaller bottles each. In the middle it shows a "Targui" (singular of Touareg) with a shield, with a camel next to him and a sunrise in the background. On the left, it says: "Le Hoggar is drunk sur le rôti" and on the right, it says, "Le Targui, Grand Vin, is drunk in all circumstances". Blow, it says: "Grands Vins Algériens, nouvelle Maison Eschenauer". The advert can be found on Gallica: https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k964033j
November 28, 2024 at 2:28 PM