The artists who have chosen "Humour in advertising" as the subject of their work were not mistaken. Humorous characters and kind smiles attract. The hackneyed example is Mickey Mouse. This Disney's character can be seen anywhere: on the clocks, powder-cases, souvenirs, and different knickknacks.

Folk town holidays and fairs could not do without funny advertisements. Joking peddlers were more successful in selling their goods, laughing at themselves. Show-booth owners pressed the public to come in with the help of caricatures.

In the XVIIIth century in England the owners of print shops put caricatures in shop-windows to attract customers; funny signs on shops, inns, and chemist's shops were also popular.

Later the artists and humourists of many countries paid serious attention to the creation of advertising posters.

It should be mentioned that advertisement can be educational, or deceitful, but we should remember Sasha Tchyorny's advice not to take any advertisement seriously.

By the end of the XIXth century in Russia posters, drawings in newspapers and magazines, postcards and envelopes advertised everything : Shustov cognac, candy, overshoes, shoe polish, etc. The caricaturists of "Satiricon" advertised their magazine very skillfully.

Advertising is really fun. When the authorities tried to prohibit the advertising of alcohol and tobacco - the ads of those goods had become more colourful and attractive.

Everybody got used to it and is looking for what one needs: the bald-heads want some balsam; somebody wishes some sleeping pills; or you hate mosquitoes... He that seeks, will find.

After the October coup of 1917 Russian advertising changed. V. Mayakovsky stopped writing lyrics and began to write humorous advertisements for candy and soothers.

Advertising caricatures in humorous publications were popular, they persuaded people to subscribe to newspapers and magazines.

Satiric advertisements were published in "Krokodil" under the heading "My ads" (in E. Migunov's drawing "Umbrella -the best present" a family is sitting under the umbrella in the house with damaged roof). Professional advertising came to Russia with the beginning of perestroika. It can not but uses humour. Favourite folk heroes advertise shoes; Napoleon persuaded to buy batteries; Stalin - spray against bugs; Lenin leased some rooms in his museum to S. Mavrodi.