I think the only reason to buy these two boxed (and heavy)books is if you want to read ad copy. These are large titles with ads probably the same size as they appeared in consumer weeklies and monthlies decades ago. Taschen have already published 'All-American ads 50s', a 928 page chunky title with probably more than two thousand ads over ten chapters, the same applies to the 60s version with 960 pages. Those books though are not so big as these two 'Mid-century ads' titles.
Considering the ads have been scanned from the real thing I thought the reproduction was pretty impressive (the matt art paper helps too) and there are vague themes that run through both books: auto ads; drink; cigarettes; fashion; beauty; travel; furniture; appliances; medical and more. The first thirty or so pages in both books have a three language illustrated essay by Steve Heller.
Apart from being able to read the best copy Mad Men could offer I found it interesting to watch the change of illustrations prevalent in fifties ads merging into all photo ads in the sixties.
I think the 'All-American ads' series titles are better value and worth mentioning that they cover ads from each decade up to the 1990s.
*White Anglo-Saxon Protestant
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