Recommended tobaccos and papirosy of the highest quality 1890s

This late 1890s advertising poster, created by an unknown artist, promotes the tobaccos and papirosy of N. K. Popov’s trading house in Moscow. Five well dressed gentlemen sit on a bench reading newspapers, each paper displaying product names and ads from the Popov factory. Their crossed legs are arranged to spell out the large word “Табак,” a playful visual trick that makes the poster instantly memorable. The text above reads “Recommended tobaccos and papirosy of the highest quality,” with additional references to the Popov tobacco factory and its pricing. The bright colors, humorous composition and clever lettering make this reproduction a vivid example of pre-revolutionary Russian commercial art.