Backed on cotton canvas and Canson acid-free paper
Launched in 1953 by British American Tobacco, the MaryLong cigarette was specially designed for the Swiss market.
The name is a contraction of 'Maryland' (the origin of the tobacco) and 'long' (the cigarettes were unusually long for the time).
The posters for the brand's advertising campaign were designed by Archie Dickens, an English artist best known for his pin-up girls. He drew the face of an elegant young woman with a boyish haircut and doe eyes, holding a Mary Long cigarette between her slender, red-nailed fingers.
The public was so taken with this cherubic face that they associated it with the name Mary, creating a life for her and believing in her existence. Women dressed up like her, and 'Mary' became an advertising icon and a social phenomenon.
1958 Mary's face becomes more stylised, depicted in a three-quarter view against a white background.
Our work consists in safekeeping the artistic heritage of advertising that we consider as a sociological trace of the twentieth century civilization. Our restoration studio proposes unique know-how in the conservation of old paper, of museum mounting and restoration of vintage poster. If you have an original old poster, Galerie 1 2 3 Studio is at your service.
The posters we propose are veritable pieces of historic heritage, which have a collector’s value. We offer a service of authenticity and original vintage poster certification and propose detailed condition reports including an Official Certificate of authenticity.
