Profiles in History Historical & Pop Culture Auction

Welcome to our Historical and Pop Culture Auction! We are pleased to present an extraordinary offering of material that left an indelible mark on history and popular culture. As highlighted below, the sale features over 20 lots related to Playboy Magazine including Hefner’s “little black book” from his Chicago office, LeRoy Nieman and Vargas paintings, and letters to Playboy’s first Executive Editor, Ray Russell, from such luminaries as Ian Fleming (discussing James Bond titles), Orson Welles (discussing Touch of Evil), Lenny Bruce and Roald Dahl. Other highlights in the sale include Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart handwritten manuscript of part of his Serenade in D major for orchestra “Andretter”, Albert Einstein letter sharing his view on God and how it relates to his Theory of Relativity, George Washington Revolutionary War-dated handwritten letter evoking a moment for which he is most known, “…the Pennsylvania Troops have crossed the Delaware”, actual Stalag 17 prisoner-made contraband crystal radio – the inspiration for the key plot device for the Stalag 17 Broadway play and feature film, Apple Computer’s first trade sign (late 1976) and Steve Wozniak’s pre-1978 toolbox – both from an early Apple employee.   116. Hugh Hefner’s personal “Little Black Book”. Vintage original “little black book”, the “bible” of the modern Playboy, belonging to the world’s most famous bachelor and publisher of Playboy magazine, Hugh Hefner. From Hef’s Chicago office in the 1960s. Consisting of a 60+page leatherette-covered spiral bound 3 x 5 in. address book. $10,000 - $15,000

115. LeRoy Neiman portrait of Ann Davis for Playboy’s “Painting a Playmate” series.  Vintage original painting of Playboy “Playmate” Ann Davis accomplished in enamels on 35.75 x 24 in. artists’ board. The “Painting a Playmate” series was commissioned by Playboy magazine in 1960. A selection of the magazine’s most popular artists was invited to paint portraits of Davis, who was “Playmate of the Month” for September 1960.  $80,000 - $120,000 118. Alberto Vargas painting titled, “This Gang’s Going on a Picnic This Afternoon and I’m Supposed to Bring Goodies”.  Vintage original “Vargas Girl” pin-up painting accomplished in pencil and watercolor on 18.5 x 28 in. artists’ board visible through 24 x 33.5 in mat. Joaquin Alberto Vargas y Chávez is arguably one of the greatest painters of women of his era and certainly the most essential artist to populate the pages of Playboy magazine. $60,000 - $80,000