Vintage playboy magazine

vintage-playboy-magazine

Playboy Magazine is a monthly men's magazine founded in 1953 known for featuring nude female centerfolds as well as fictional stories, cartoons, features and interviews.

Brief history and description

Many notable models, actresses, musicians and athletes have been featured on the cover throughout Playboy's history, with the most notable being Marilyn Monroe, Jayne Mansfield, Mara Corday, Ursula Andress, Carol Lynley and many more.

The best-selling issue was the November 1972 edition which featured model Pam Rawlings on the cover; (over 7,161,561 copies were sold).

Guide for collectors

Each Playboy magazine is given an individual number, for example "Vol. 3, No.4," and the publication date is typically printed on the front cover. Some autographed magazines may also be sold along with a COA certificate from Global Authentication. Due to their delicacy, the magazines should be stored in their original containers or wrappings as much as possible.

A Playboy magazine featuring Marilyn Monroe on the front cover as well as any anniversary issue typically sells for much higher prices at auctions.

Magazine Shop Online's website has a collection of Playboy magazines from the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s and 1980s for sale, as well as Vintage Playboy Mags' website.

Value

The first edition of the magazine, which was published in December of 1953 and featured Marilyn Monroe on the cover, can sell from anywhere to $1,100 to $6,300 at auctions.

Philip Weiss Auctions in Oceanside, New York sold:

• A Playboy magazine (Vol. 1, No. 2; January 1954) featuring a cartoon rabbit in between two woman on the front cover for $875 in July of 2005.
• A lot of Playboy magazines (circa 1957) including one featuring Jayne Mansfield on the front cover for $280 in July of 2005.

Nate D. Sanders Auctions in Los Angeles, California sold a lot of Playboy magazines from the 1960s for $303 in August of 2007.

Universal Rarities, LLC in Corona, California sold a Playboy magazine featuring Brigitte Bardot on the cover (circa April 1969) which was also signed by Bardot in a blue felt tip marker and inscribed with the words "Samantha's boy friend" for $110 in April of 2007.

William J. Jenack Auctioneers in Chester, New York sold a lot of 16 Playboy and Penthouse magazines from the 1970s and 1980s for $30 in October of 2006.

See also

Main article: Magazines
Main article: Marilyn Monroe collectibles