This advertisement, with its blue spot-color, is featured on page 77 of the August 12, 1961, issue of The New Yorker. The only text states "Give her an island and a Paper Mate pen," followed by "Lady Capri $2.95."
That's a fairly expensive pen! Not as much as an island, for sure. But $2.95 in 1961 is the equivalent of about $24 today.
Paper Mate, according to the history portion of its website, was established in the early 1940s by entrepreneur Patrick J. Frawley. The "revolutionary" Paper Mate ballpoint pen was introduced in 1949, and, during the 1950s, the company spared no expense on advertising to spread the word about its invention. The company has added many other commonplace products for home and work offices over the decades, expanding far past the ballpoint pen. The InkJoy pens and InkJoy Gel pens, introduced here in the 2010s, have been especially popular. And, best of all, they don't cost $24.
Changing gears, here's the cover of that 1961 issue of The New Yorker. It's a gem, with a wonderful message.
Construction of the Berlin Wall commenced at 2 AM (Central European time) on Sunday, August 13, 1961, corresponding to Saturday, August 12, 1961 in the western hemisphere.
ReplyDeleteThe children on the cover of this magazine appear oblivious to events occurring half a world away.
-- M.F.