The Global Insight
arts | March 15, 2026

100-Year-Old "Life Hacks" Found On Vintage Cigarette Cards

Increase Lung Power How to increase lung power...The New York Public Library/George Arents Collection
Increase Lung Power Back The New York Public Library/George Arents Collection
Light Match In Wind How to light a match in the wind...The New York Public Library/George Arents Collection
Light Match In Wind Back The New York Public Library/George Arents Collection
See The Wind How to see the wind...The New York Public Library/George Arents Collection
See The Wind Back The New York Public Library/George Arents Collection
Measure With Coins How to measure with coins...The New York Public Library/George Arents Collection
Measure With Coins Back The New York Public Library/George Arents Collection
Remove Tight Ring How to remove a tight ring from the finger...The New York Public Library/George Arents Collection
Remove Tight Ring Back The New York Public Library/George Arents Collection
Mend Broken China How to mend broken china...The New York Public Library/George Arents Collection
Mend Broken China Back The New York Public Library/George Arents Collection
Blow Over A Brick How to blow over a brick...The New York Public Library/George Arents Collection
Blow Over A Brick Back The New York Public Library/George Arents Collection
Extract A Splinter How to extract a splinter...The New York Public Library/George Arents Collection
Extract A Splinter Back The New York Public Library/George Arents Collection
Enlargement Or Reduction How to proportionate enlargement or reduction...The New York Public Library/George Arents Collection
Enlargement Or Reduction Back The New York Public Library/George Arents Collection
Ink Bottle Upsetting How to prevent an ink bottle from upsetting...The New York Public Library/George Arents Collection
Ink Bottle Upsetting Back The New York Public Library/George Arents Collection
Judge Freshness Of A Lobster How to judge freshness of a lobster...The New York Public Library/George Arents Collection
Judge Freshness Of A Lobster Back The New York Public Library/George Arents Collection
Judge The Weather How to judge the weather...The New York Public Library/George Arents Collection
Judge The Weather Back The New York Public Library/George Arents Collection
Keep Lids Raised How to keep saucepan lids raised...The New York Public Library/George Arents Collection
Keep Lids Raised Back The New York Public Library/George Arents Collection
Kill Tree Stump How to kill a tree stump...The New York Public Library/George Arents Collection
Kill Tree Stump Back The New York Public Library/George Arents Collection
Make Corks Fit How to make corks fit...The New York Public Library/George Arents Collection
Make Corks Fit Back The New York Public Library/George Arents Collection
Make Nuts Secure How to make nuts secure...The New York Public Library/George Arents Collection
Make Nuts Secure Back The New York Public Library/George Arents Collection
Make Pad Lock Cover How to make a padlock cover...The New York Public Library/George Arents Collection
Make Pad Lock Cover Back The New York Public Library/George Arents Collection
Pick Up Broken Glass How to pick up broken glass...The New York Public Library/George Arents Collection
Pick Up Broken Glass Back The New York Public Library/George Arents Collection
Preserve Autumn Leaves How to preserve autumn leaves...The New York Public Library/George Arents Collection
Preserve Autumn Leaves Back The New York Public Library/George Arents Collection
Prevent Glasses Steaming How to prevent eye glasses steaming...The New York Public Library/George Arents Collection
Prevent Glasses Steaming Back The New York Public Library/George Arents Collection
Pull Out Nails How to pull out long nails...The New York Public Library/George Arents Collection
Pull Out Nails Back The New York Public Library/George Arents Collection
Remove Glass Stopper How to remove glass stopper from bottle...The New York Public Library/George Arents Collection
Remove Glass Stopper Back The New York Public Library/George Arents Collection
Separate Glass Tumblers How to separate glass tumblers...The New York Public Library/George Arents Collection
Separate Glass Tumblers Back The New York Public Library/George Arents Collection
Swat That Fly How to "swat that fly"...The New York Public Library/George Arents Collection
Swat That Fly Back The New York Public Library/George Arents Collection
Treat An Animal Bite How to treat bite of animal...The New York Public Library/George Arents Collection
Treat An Animal Bite Back The New York Public Library/George Arents Collection
Use Up Coal Dust How to use up coal dust...The New York Public Library/George Arents Collection
Use Up Coal Dust Back The New York Public Library/George Arents Collection
Water Fountain For Chicks How to make water fountain for chicks...The New York Public Library/George Arents Collection
Water Fountain For Chicks Back The New York Public Library/George Arents Collection
Clean A Clock How to clean a clock...The New York Public Library/George Arents Collection
Clean A Clock Back The New York Public Library/George Arents Collection
Clean Bottles How to clean bottles...The New York Public Library/George Arents Collection
Clean Bottles Back The New York Public Library/George Arents Collection
Clean Oil Painting How to clean oil painting...The New York Public Library/George Arents Collection
Clean Oil Painting Back The New York Public Library/George Arents Collection
Clean White Straw Hat How to clean a white straw hat...The New York Public Library/George Arents Collection
Clean White Straw Hat Back The New York Public Library/George Arents Collection
Cool Wine Without Ice How to cool wine without ice...The New York Public Library/George Arents Collection
Cool Wine Without Ice Back The New York Public Library/George Arents Collection
Cut Bread Into Thin Slices How to cut new bread into thin slices...The New York Public Library/George Arents Collection
Cut Bread Into Thin Slices Back The New York Public Library/George Arents Collection
Detect Damp Bed How to detect dampness in beds...The New York Public Library/George Arents Collection
Detect Damp Bed Back The New York Public Library/George Arents Collection
Draw Duck How to draw a duck without pencil leaving the paper...The New York Public Library/George Arents Collection
Draw Duck Back The New York Public Library/George Arents Collection

In the 1910s, the United Kingdom's Gallaher brand cigarettes gave smokers a little something extra in each pack: proto-"life hacks" on pack-stiffening cigarette cards, complete with gorgeous, full-color illustrations.

Want to know how to preserve fall leaves? Gallaher has you covered — as long as you can get your hands on spermaceti, a waxy substance generated by sperm whales.

Having trouble slicing new bread (since the pre-sliced variety wouldn't emerge for more than a decade)? Hot water is a knife's best friend.

Looking for a frivolous new doodle for the margins of your college textbooks? Gallaher has a discrete method sure to impress your lab partner (and fool the professor that you're taking copious notes).

Remarkably, many of the "hacks" like these -- and which appear in the gallery above -- have actually aged extraordinarily well. Others -- most notably the lung-strengthening exercise advice from a cigarette manufacturer -- seem quaint at best and downright dangerous at worst. If you choose to listen to 100-year-old advice from a yellowing cigarette card, please, proceed with caution.

Love the aesthetic of cigarette cards? Go back to the 1880s and check out a curious way that another manufacturer tried to sell more smokes. Craving more life hacks? Check out seven sure to improve your day-to-day.

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