Ghosts of Christmas past: festive adverts in the Guardian – in pictures

Robertson's urge readers to 'eat a Mince Pie each day from Christmas Day to Twelfth Night' in this ad from 1920 Photograph: Guardian

In 1920 the Manchester Guardian published a History of the War just in time for Christmas – the perfect gift for adventurous boys Photograph: Guardian

Wilkinson's Pontefract Cakes make the perfect stocking filler, according to this 1921 advert Photograph: Guardian

Targeting wives and girlfriends, Gillette claimed in 1923 their razors were the ideal Christmas gift for men Photograph: Guardian

Whittaker's claimed in 1925 that their plum puddings could make you happy Photograph: Guardian

Columbia Records celebrates the 'first electric recording Christmas' in 1926 Photograph: Guardian

Giving tobacco at Christmas was once the norm, as seen in this advertisement for Player's cigarettes from December 1926 Photograph: Guardian

The Kit-Cat club and the Café de Paris were the places to go for Christmas and new year 1927 Photograph: Guardian

Latching on to the clamour for electrical goods, Kendals department store encourages housewives to ask for a Hoover in 1933 Photograph: Guardian

A 1940 advert promotes the warming properties of a hot cup of Bovril Photograph: Guardian

When war broke out in 1939, Kendals' ads went from the luxurious to the practical. An ad from 1941 makes a selling point of their air raid shelters Photograph: Guardian

Post-war austerity saw a rise in advertising for charity appeals. The British Sailors' Society appealed for Christmas donations in 1951 Photograph: Guardian

In 1951 the big draws at Kendals department store were the toy fair and gift wrapping service Photograph: Guardian

Martell urges readers to make friends with Mr Brandyman in this 1955 advert Photograph: Guardian

By the 60s, holidaying abroad over the festive period had become popular. Santa sports sunglasses in this advert for Typaldos cruises in 1965 Photograph: Guardian