Advertisement

Advertisement, a public notification of some fact affecting the financial or other interests of either the advertiser or the persons addressed. It is usually effected by means of paragraphs in newspapers, fly-leaves, bills, posters, etc. The duty on advertisements was first enacted in 1712, and its abolition in 1853 gave a great impulse to advertising, which is now carried on to an extent which at one time would have been thought incredible. The expenditure by a house of business of £30,000 a year in advertising is nowadays thought by no means extraordinary.