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OPENING NIGHT OF “ICONS: PLAYBOY, HUGH HEFNER X MARILYN MONROE” DAZZLES
DAY TWO BIDDING BEGINS AT 10AM PDT MARCH 29TH
March 31, 2024
“Vargas Girls,” “Femlins,” Bunny Suits, Hugh Hefnerand Marilyn Monroe’s Iconic Wardrobe and 1953 First Playboy Magazine Issue Kick Off Three-Day Auction in High Style
MARILYN MONROE OWNED AND WORN PUCCI DRESS
Sold for $325,000, 8X Its Estimate
HUGH HEFNER BURGUNDY SMOKING JACKET, SILK PAJAMAS, AND SLIPPERS WITH MAGAZINE
Sold for $35,750, 17X Its Estimate
Los Angeles, California – (March28th, 2024) Vargas pinup girls, femlins and bunnies, as well as two legendary garments of Hugh Hefner and Marilyn Monroe and the first Playboy issue featuring the Hollywood siren on the cover dazzled on the opening night of “ICONS:PLAYBOY, HUGH HEFNER X MARILYN MONROE” held Thursday, March 28thlive and online at Julien’s Auctions. The first night of the auction was held at NYA Studios East, Hollywood’s movie and sound studio that was transformed into a Playboy inspired exhibition (photo left)displaying a historic collection of the three mid-century American icons brought together for the first time in auction history.
The top selling item was a pink Pucci long-sleeved dress of silk jersey accompanied by a rope and crystal tassel belt, size 10 owned and worn by Marilyn Monroe which sold for $325,000, over eight times its estimate of $40,000.
SOLD FOR $325,000
A pink Pucci long-sleeved dress of silk jersey accompanied by a rope and crystal tassel belt, size 10, that was owned and worn by Marilyn Monroe. The label reads, “Emilio Pucci/ Florence Italy” and “Made in Italy Exclusively For Saks Fifth Avenue.”
A burgundy smoking jacket with black silk pajamas and slippers, personally owned by Hugh Hefner sold for $35,750 selling over 17 times its estimate of $2,000.
SOLD FOR $35,750
A burgundy smoking jacket with black silk pajamas and slippers, personally owned by Hugh Hefner.
LeRoy Neiman’s original 1959 oil on canvas painting titled, "Romanoffs," that appeared in the June 1959 issue of Playboy magazine, as part of the recurring "Man at His Leisure" series, sold for $76,200 over its estimate of $60,000(photo right)as well as one of Neiman’s most famous Playboy “Femlin” character images, the illustrator’s original ink and gouache on paper drawing of a femlin in a New Year's champagne bucket sold for $6,500.
SOLD FOR $76,200
LeRoy Neiman (American, 1921-2012) original oil on canvas painting titled, "Romanoffs," 1959, vertically signed lower left and labeled on the verso.
This painting appears on page 63 of the June 1959 issue of Playboy magazine, as part of the recurring "Man at His Leisure" series, the artwork overlaying a partial image from the menu at Romanoff's in Hollywood.
SOLD FOR $6,500
LeRoy Neiman (American, 1921-2012) original ink and gouache on paper drawing of Femlin in a New Year's champagne bucket. With publication annotations.
This drawing appeared on page 40 in the "Party Jokes" section of the January 1958 issue of Playboy magazine.
An original copy of the first 1953 issue of Playboy magazine featuring Marilyn Monroe on the cover where she was named “Sweetheart of the Month,” which evolved into Playmate of the Month sold for $6,500, more than three times its estimate of $2,000
SOLD FOR $6,500
An original copy of the first issue of Playboy magazine (HMH Publishing, 1953) featuring Marilyn Monroe on the cover. Monroe also appears on the interior of the premiere issue of Hugh Hefner's famous magazine in an article on pages 17 and 18 titled "What Makes Marilyn" and a color pin-up of Monroe taken by Tom Kelley during the 1949 Red Velvet session is published on page 19. Monroe is called "Sweetheart of the Month," which evolved into Playmate of the Month. The magazine hit newsstands in December 1953 and sold for 50 cents a copy.
Two of pinup artist Albert Vargas’ legendary watercolor drawings and paintings synonymous with Playboy iconography tantalized bidders: an Alberto Vargas Girl pinup from Playboy magazine’s February 1963 issue sold for $29,250 and Alberto Vargas Girl pinup from the August 1964 issue of Playboy magazine sold for $39,000
SOLD FOR $29,250
Alberto Vargas (Peruvian/American, 1896-1982) original signed watercolor and pencil drawing on illustration board.
This Vargas Girl appeared in the February 1963 issue of Playboy magazine on p. 102, with the caption "Well, I guess we've disproved that silly thing, Doctor."
SOLD FOR $39,000
Alberto Vargas (Peruvian/American, 1896-1982) original signed watercolor and pencil drawing on illustration board.
This Vargas Girl appeared in the August 1964 issue of Playboy magazine on p. 102, with the caption "You know, Captain, before you invited me on this cruise I really had no idea what the first mate was supposed to do."
