Advertising in Russian periodicals at the turn of the communist era

Abstract

Purpose – This paper aims to document and analyze the development of Russian print advertising at the turn of the Communist era. It provides an overview of Russian print advertising in 1917 as compared with the previous decades of the “Russian economic miracle”. Design/methodology/approach – This study uses a historical method based on archival research. Analysis of primary sources in this paper is used in conjunction with secondary sources available. Findings – The amount and quality of advertising in Russian newspapers in 1917 is described. The decline of the “Russian economic miracle” print advertising is confirmed. The findings in this paper also change the previous perception of events in Russia in 1917, as well as in the history of Russian advertising. Originality/value – There has been little research on Russian advertising between the end of the Russian Empire and the early Soviet era, and there is no written history of advertising in Russian periodicals in 1917. Therefore, this paper adds to the literature on the history of advertising at the beginning of the twentieth century.