Long-running newspaper advertisements

The Guardian has a feature on the world's longest-running newspaper ad, for Bowden Hall College's Practical English Programme. The ad features a slogan such as "Why Does Your English Let You Down?" in a style resembing a newspaper heading, next to a black-and-white photograph of one of various models, and text promoting an easy technique to improve your English. The most famous of the photographs was of accountant and part-time model Derek Derbyshire who posed in 1963 for the fee of three guineas. When Derbyshire died in 2000, the Telegraph carried a little note remembering him and an obituary.

This led to a discussion in the comments of another much-posted and famous ad from the Guardian (previously discussed by the non-newspaper-affiliated Guardian Work blogger who attempted to apply to every job in one issue of the Guardian). This ad reads:

Home helps required by Female Writer in Notting Hill Gate.

Housework, shopping and whatever comes up. Over-qualified people welcomed. A sense of humour helps and you'll need to be reliable, practical, keenly helpful and able to commit to a minimum of six months.

E-mail (no attachments please) with brief résumé and full contact details.

It has been running for about a decade. A slightly longer version from citykids.co.uk reads:

PART-TIME HOME HELPS NEEDED BY SLIGHTLY DISABLED FEMALE WRITER IN NOTTING HILL GATE. One, two, or three mornings a week or other morning hours neg: £9.00 per hour. Work includes housekeeping, shopping and whatever comes up. A sense of humour helps and you'll need to be RELIABLE and well-organised, genuinely enjoy helping people and have excellent references. Ongoing opportunity, positions available immediately. Ideally for a minimum of 6 months.
Email: XXXXX@tiscali.co.uk
Phone: - Send very brief email about yourself (NO ATTACHMENTS PLEASE!) with your PHONE NUMBER and the area of London you live in to XXXXX@tiscali.co.uk

It's like something by Elizabeth Taylor. When people talk about classic advertising they often think of Guinness ads, or maybe Cointreau, but the history of the little advertisements, those that don't have a huge design budget or vast creative team involved, is the true history of our culture.