‘Mid-Century Ads: Advertising from the Mad Men Era’

The US series ‘Mad Men’ has been the biggest thing on TV in recent years. Now, with the fifth season just hitting the screens, a new book has been published celebrating the era of the hard-drinking, even harder smoking and generally ‘hip’ world of advertising in the 1950s and 1960s.

Post-War America enjoyed one of the nation's biggest-ever consumer booms. The American public wanted to spend in a big way, and it was down to advertising agencies to create ever-more-innovative campaigns to sway opinion away from one brand or product, and towards another.

Hence the growth of the famous agencies and the ‘Don Draper clones’ with their sharp suits, ever-present full-strength cigarettes and appreciative eye for the ladies.

‘Mid-Century Ads: Advertising from the Mad Men Era’

In its 720 pages, the two-volume, slip-cased book from Taschen covers this era. Authors Jim Heimann and Steven Heller have painstakingly sought out some of the best ads and campaigns from this period, all digitally remastered to look as bright and fresh as they did over 50 years ago.

Photos: Taschen