In the days before credit cards came into widespread use, travelers checks offered a safer alternative to carrying cash. American Express Travelers Cheques—as they prefer to spell them— were promoted in a series of humorous advertisements which appeared in the New Yorker in the early 1950s. These ads featured a variety of cartoonists, many of whom had their work appearing in the magazine.
Tom Henderson was never a New Yorker cartoonist, but he contributed several cartoons to this advertising campaign. This one appearing in the New Yorker is quite amusing.
Stan and Jan Berenstain are today remembered for their children's books, particularly those featuring the Berenstain Bears. They were not contributors to the New Yorker, yet their style fits in quite well with the magazine's. In 1951, they signed their work The Berenstains.
Cartoonist Chon Day's contribution is a reminder that it's never too early in a marriage to have your first disagreement. He and the following cartoonists had their work published often in the New Yorker.
Note: New Yorker cartoonist Ed Nofziger contributed to this advertising campaign for American Express Travelers Cheques at least four times. See this work here on Ink Spill.
George Price contributed to this American Express advertising campaign in 1954, as shown above. See it also on Ink Spill with other outstanding Price ads here.
And speaking of Ink Spill, a better scan of the William Steig ad can be found here along with other Steig advertising work.
There might very well be other examples of this advertising campaign that were published in the pages of the New Yorker. Please inform me if you know of any such additional ads.
Stan and Jan Berenstain have not appeared on this blog before. Neither has Tom Henderson. The other cartoonists have, of course, and links to their work previously shown on the blog appear in aqua below. I would love to hear from anyone with original art by any of the cartoonists in this post.
Quick Links to the Attempted Bloggery Archives:
Sam Cobean
Chon Day
William Steig
Richard Taylor
The New Yorker
Advertising
Attempted Bloggery's Checkered Index
Tom Henderson was never a New Yorker cartoonist, but he contributed several cartoons to this advertising campaign. This one appearing in the New Yorker is quite amusing.
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| "I don't care who you say you are. The only checks we accept are American Express Travelers Cheques." Tom Henderson The New Yorker, March 3, 1951, page 61 |
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| https://archives.newyorker.com/?iid=17153&crd=0&searchKey=EXPRESS%20YOUR%20PREFERENCE%20FOR%20THE%20BEST!#folio=060 |
Stan and Jan Berenstain are today remembered for their children's books, particularly those featuring the Berenstain Bears. They were not contributors to the New Yorker, yet their style fits in quite well with the magazine's. In 1951, they signed their work The Berenstains.
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| "We're not eloping till you're smart enough to get American Express Travelers Cheques." The Berenstains (Stan and Jan) The New Yorker, April 7, 1951, page 119 |
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| https://archives.newyorker.com/?iid=17158&crd=0&searchKey=Convenient%20as%20Cash%20100%%20Safe#folio=118 |
Sam Cobean was a New Yorker regular. His cartoon for the advertising campaign is a grating experience.
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| "Gee, mister, you're old enough to know you ought to carry your travel cash in American Express Travelers Cheques." Sam Cobean The New Yorker, May 19, 1951, page 57 |
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| https://archives.newyorker.com/?iid=17164&crd=0&searchKey=EXPRESS%20YOUR%20PREFERENCE%20FOR%20THE%20BEST!#folio=056 |
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| "She won't go anywhere until he gets American Express Travelers Cheques." Chon Day The New Yorker, June 16, 1951, page 102 |
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| https://archives.newyorker.com/?iid=17167&crd=0&searchKey=Convenient%20as%20Cash%20100%%20Safe#folio=102 |
Richard Taylor's cartoon suggests that American Express Travelers Cheques may not be such a new idea after all.
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| "It says: 'American Express Travelers Cheques accepted here'." Richard Taylor The New Yorker, August 11, 1951, page 69 |
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William Steig's contribution is right out of his Small Fry playbook. In this popular cartoon series, young children typically imagine themselves in grandiose situations.
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| "And to insure the safety of your trip, Sir, here are your American Express Travelers Cheques." William Steig The New Yorker, May 3, 1952, page 63 |
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| https://archives.newyorker.com/?iid=18982&crd=0&searchKey=here%20are%20your%20American%20Express%20Travelers%20Cheques#folio=062 |
September 9, 2018 Update: Cartoonist George Price is not afraid of heights.
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| "I told you this might happen. You should've carried American Express Travelers Cheques—they're accepted everywhere!" George Price The New Yorker, July 3, 1954, page 47 |
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| "I told you this might happen. You should've carried American Express Travelers Cheques—they're accepted everywhere!" George Price The New Yorker, July 3, 1954, page 47 |
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| https://archives.newyorker.com/?i=1954-07-03#folio=046 |
George Price contributed to this American Express advertising campaign in 1954, as shown above. See it also on Ink Spill with other outstanding Price ads here.
And speaking of Ink Spill, a better scan of the William Steig ad can be found here along with other Steig advertising work.
There might very well be other examples of this advertising campaign that were published in the pages of the New Yorker. Please inform me if you know of any such additional ads.
Stan and Jan Berenstain have not appeared on this blog before. Neither has Tom Henderson. The other cartoonists have, of course, and links to their work previously shown on the blog appear in aqua below. I would love to hear from anyone with original art by any of the cartoonists in this post.
Quick Links to the Attempted Bloggery Archives:
Sam Cobean
Chon Day
Richard Taylor
The New Yorker
Advertising
Attempted Bloggery's Checkered Index
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