RZM Fine Arts and Antiques Inc: Ask the Appraiser

Hey Jon, here’s something I think might be special. Over 25 years ago we were cleaning out my father’s estate and lo and behold, we came upon a box of magazines he apparently was saving in the basement. As my son was carrying them out to the curb, several magazines fell out of the bottom of the box. The enclosed pictures show one of the magazines that fell out. When I saw Marilyn Monroe on the cover, it sparked my interest. Could you please give me a little information about it and maybe even its value? I’m happy to tell you that it was sealed in protective plastic, so it looks great, which I think is amazing. I’ve been reading your column each week and I have learned a great deal; particularly about how important condition is. Thanking you in advance.

Stephan in Nanuet

What “fell out of the bottom of the box” is a very rare first issue of “Playboy” magazine, from December 1953. It is the highly collectible first issue, volume number 1. This was the landmark issue of Hugh Hefner’s controversial men’s magazine. It features the famous color centerfold of Playboy’s very first “Sweetheart of the Month,” Marilyn Monroe. The original name for this magazine was going to be titled “Stag Party.” This was until an unrelated outdoor magazine titled “Stag” threatened to sue Hefner. The name “Playboy” came from Hefner’s vice president Eldon Sellers who named the magazine after the Playboy Automotive Company where his mother had worked. The price of the original magazine was 50 cents. An interesting fact, please notice this issue did not carry a date on the cover, as Hugh Hefner was unsure whether or not there would even be a second issue. However, “Playboy” proved to be an instant success, completely selling out over 53,000 copies in a matter of weeks. As you can see, this magazine was mostly printed in black and white, with few color pages. Of note, it is this issue that the famous “Playboy Party Jokes” got its start. 

Based on your photographs, this particular magazine is complete, including the nude Marilyn Monroe centerfold. In color of course! Many of these centerfolds were torn out. The binding is tight with vibrant colors throughout. These first issue Playboy magazines have really taken off in value. So much so, that just as we send rare coins and baseball cards to third-party grading services, it is now common practice to have important magazines and comic books slabbed in protective plastic and graded with a numerical condition designation. I am quite certain your magazine is going to grade somewhere between a four and five on this grading scale of one through ten. Ten being the highest grade possible. Therefore, based on my research of recent similar magazines sold at auction, it is my professional opinion that the current value of this particular magazine is $3,500 USD. Not too bad for a 50-cent investment! Our readers should know, we did not include the Marilyn Monroe nude centerfold picture sent in with this question.