Whitman Sells

So while society may now be tempted to buy anything with a celebrity face attached to it, there was a time when Whitman could do pretty much the same thing.

First, there's the Border Bookshop Expresso Bar poster.

Adapted from a picture of Whitman holding a butterfly, the winged insect was replaced with a cup of coffee that Whitman could eternally stare at in contemplation. The message was pretty straight forward. Coffee shops are generally associated with starving artists, writers, etc. So this poster was made to appeal to those masses. Come drink our coffee and become the next great loafer poet!

Next, Camden Grocers Exchange took advantage of our poet's fame.
(Sorry, no visual available. Use your imagination!)
The store offered an assortment of products bearing Whitman's image, including coffee, ice cream, cigars and cigarettes.

Finally, there's our good friends over at Old Crow Whiskey.

Supposedly, in 1891 Whitman received a bottle of Old Crow as a gift, and the company decided that this made Whitman one of their "famous customers". (Also, come on, look at that picture. Who thinks Whitman actually looked like that, ever? Think of his portrait in Leaves of Grass!)

So what have we learned? Well, essentially that the advertising world has not changed one bit. They still like to exploit the famous to make the ordinary believe their product is extraordinary. All that has changed is the type of celebrity most commonly used (Esteemed authors vs. musicians and actors).

Still, I'd buy that coffee if it made me write like Whitman.