Bespoke Ads

A socio-economic experiment

I was going through my archive of Russian magazines from 1905—1907 and noticed I am much more likely to examine ads in them than I am to look at ads on Twitter or Instagram.

Easy and radical elimination of bedbugs and cockroaches using a special liquid, from the factory of "R. KÖLER and Co in Moscow".

That made me remember that, when I was a kid, I found it amusing to look at personal ads in local newspapers and magazines too. There was a goofiness and an innocence about them.

Vas’ka, give the money back! Barge #218. A.K.

I want to try an experiment here in PsyPol. If you donate $5 either to MAPS or to this campaign to help Ukraine and send me the reciept, I’ll put your ad in PsyPol. Try keeping it short.

"Sins of Youth." An instructive word for all who have upset their nervous system with onanism and debauchery. Authored by Dr. LORENTZ. Russian edition by Dr. B. Price 1 ruble. This useful book contains numerous tips on how to relieve suffering from the harmful consequences of the aforementioned vices and restore weakened strength and health. This book has been approved by the Moscow Censorship Committee.

Maybe you’re looking for a job or a worker, or for companionship; perhaps you have something to sell; or you might have have a Substack of your own that would appeal to my audience. You could have an important message to share: a warning about UFOs, DMT, or AI, or a piece of political propaganda that got into your brain and wants to go further. Maybe your band needs a drummer. Or you just want to say HEY.

Wanted: a literate and honest footman. Former ministers need not apply.

Give $5 to a good cause, formulate the message that you want transmitted, and I’ll publish it. I’ll try to add a personal touch to every submission: I might draw a little illustration, or play with the typography, or put a old-fashioned frame around the message—the ads you see in this post will serve as inspiration. If I want to edit the text, I’ll run it by you first.

Berley Soap. Prepared according to a special old English recipe. The very best and purest soap for all uses. Especially for the head. For the toilet with a very delicate scent. It adorns the complexion and imparts a lasting freshness to the skin. Price 50 k. per piece. 7 pieces for 3 rubles. John Craven Berley. Reject counterfeits.

Depending on the volume of requests I receive, I’ll either make a dedicated ad-only issue, The Psychopolitica Bulletin or something, or simply start inserting small ads into my usual content.

Collection "Among Love" Two issues in magazine format, 16 pages each, richly illustrated, sent for 35 kopecks (stamps are acceptable). The price of a single issue is 15 kopecks without shipping. The first issue features the article: "The Women's Question from Cupid's Point of View."

I don’t think advertisement has to be the pollution it usually is. We can treat it as a creative and collaborative endeavor. We can connect through it in fun, playful ways.

Please send your submissions to nikita.s.petrov@gmail.com.

---