Here is another display from the Florida State University Institute on World War II and the Human Experience. These were called "cigarette books" and are examples of German propaganda. The books were sold to the public with text, but no photographs or images. Cigarette and tobacco companies would sell numbered photographic prints in cigarette packs that corresponded with blank numbered spaces in the books. It was up to the consumer of the cigarettes to coordinate the numbers and glue the photographs into the books. There were a variety of these cigarette books published in Germany during the war.
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They still have similar books for children at the big grocery stores. Only instead of propaganda, they're usually Disney stickers. You buy the book for 2 euros and then collect the stickers "for free" when you buy groceries. I guess it makes you loyal to one supermarket, or back then to one brand of cigarettes.
These are very peculiar historical books, I have never seen before. When I was young we could also collect images of animals when buying candy. Or your mother had to buy a certain product at the grocery.
That is fascinating. I've never heard of "cigarette books." Maybe FAUX News will pick up on the idea to foster their ever-increasing propaganda in favor of the 1%. :)
My grand-parents, who got married in occupied (by the Germans) France, were '''presented''' Mein Kampf by the the occupying authorities on their wedding day. They could not refuse, their lives being at stake... Propaganda indeed.
Oh my goodness, I had never heard of this before. How interesting.
I didn't know of 'cigarette books'!
Cigarette books are a new one to me.
When I was a kid, there were albums sold to collect small printed photos. They were sold in packages of 4 to be glued in the albums. Some were quite difficult to get and we traded with friends when we had duplicate. The themes were movies, especially Disney's. Nowadays they are of soccer players.
Yes, these are new to me, too!! Amazing history again!! Thank you so much for sharing, Lois!! Hope you have a lovely weekend!! Enjoy
Appropriate post, Lois, especially with the reissue of Mein Kampf in Germany recently.
Yuck... But needed to never forget. I didn't know about cigarette books either...
What an interesting post! I thoroughly loved your pictures, and read each word with fascination.
Que maravilha de livros.
Gostei.
Um abraço e bom fim de semana.
Well imagine that! The idea of getting stickers for goods bought started way back then, who knew! This has been a very interesting exhibition Lois, thanks for taking us along, have a wonderful weekend with the grandchildren, lucky you!
What interesting displays. I have enjoyed ours in St. Paul, MN, too. Important to recall and preserve history.
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