Bovril (beef drink), early 20th century.

[booksandcheeses.livejournal.com]

I don't even know what to say.

Comments

[hazeltea.livejournal.com]

From what I understand, people thought of it as "beef extract" and it was marketed as a cheap alternative to eating meat. They seemed to think you could get the same benefits, like protein from instant broth. So many people bought weird crap in an attempt to fatten their kids up so that that wouldn't starve, it's kind of sad.

[cionaudha.livejournal.com]

Is it the same sort of thing as beef tea, which was considered excellent food for invalids?

[booksandcheeses.livejournal.com]

If you look up "beef tea" on Wikipedia, it takes you to the Bovril page, so I'm going to say yes...

[woodburner.livejournal.com]

I...


Bovril?

(http://pics.livejournal.com/woodburner/pic/002czgh1/)

[glass-houses.livejournal.com]

Hahahaha omg.

[beetle-breath.livejournal.com]

what the hell?!

[woodburner.livejournal.com]

:D

It's from Scott Westerfeld's Behemoth and it (somewhat accidentally) got named Bovril.

[cionaudha.livejournal.com]

There's so much that I don't understand.

The Pope is the easy part, except for the feathers behind his throne and that he appears to be blessing the Bovril.

But...

Why is the Bovril in a Tiny Turret on a pedestal with caryatid?

Why does it look like the Pope (in full regalia) and the Tiny Turret of Bovril sit together at night by candlelight and discuss the teachings of the early fathers?

Why am I so bothered by Leg of Invisible Person Holding Up Tiny Turret of Bovril?

[xellos-otaku-21.livejournal.com]

If you look real closely, you can make at a little man holding up the Tiny Turret of Bovril. I think he's Atlas' loser cousin or something.

[ecarnation.livejournal.com]

rofl

I was a bit weirded out by the leg too but looking closer I can see him now.

[pikkewyntjie.livejournal.com]

I was thinking it might be an altar boy hiding under there.

[tudorlady.livejournal.com]

Why does it look like the Pope (in full regalia) and the Tiny Turret of Bovril sit together at night by candlelight and discuss the teachings of the early fathers?

My thoughts exactly. Either that, or his Hoiiness has been inhaling the incense a little too deeply and just thinks that turret-o-Bovril can talk.

[pikkewyntjie.livejournal.com]

Bovril is nasty! It has all the vile qualities of Vegemite, but without the vegetable goodness. My husband is from South Africa and those people eat that crap, too. I don't think it's even legal in the U.S. because it's made of beef and there is a complete ban on beef imports. The South African store we shop at says they can't get it anymore.

[cionaudha.livejournal.com]

I am relieved to know that as long as I stay on sovereign US soil I will not be threatened by Bovril. Well, maybe threatened, but it will be an empty threat! Ha! Lips that touch Bovril shall never touch mine!

Though of course we're the people who've inflicted McDonald's on much of the world, so... you know... sorry about that and everything. Um.

[hazeltea.livejournal.com]

Well, at least we've pretty much contained Taco Bell.

[beckyan.livejournal.com]

Um, actually we have Taco Bell here in the Philippines. :P

[pikkewyntjie.livejournal.com]

Yes! Another way the Department of Homeland Security is keeping you safe from all threats, both real and imagined (but mostly imagined).

[tabaqui]

Lips that touch Bovril shall never touch mine!

*dies laughing*

[stasia]

Oh my. This MUST be made into an icon.

Sheesh.

Stasia

[allonymist.livejournal.com]

Wow. I first saw this ad reprinted (or redrawn?) in the back of an alt-history comic. I think it was Brian Talbot's Heart of Empire. When I first saw the ad, I assumed it was fictional. Seeing it here is like finding out that Spider-Man is a real person or something.

[wheelerwoolsey.livejournal.com]

I just have a hunch that this isn't the ad they used to market this product to Baptists in the (anti-Catholic) south in those days....

[beetle-breath.livejournal.com]

WTF is up with the disembodied leg??