GARDENA, Calif. — Twenty-four original Alberto Vargas works formerly in the Playboy magazine collection are the star attractions at Julien’s Auctions‘ ICONS: Playboy, Hugh Hefner and Marilyn Monroe three-session sale taking place Thursday, March 28 through Saturday, March 30. The catalogs are now open for viewing and bidding at LiveAuctioneers.
Originally commissioned by Hugh Hefner for publication in Playboy magazine, the incredible group spans 1960-1975 and feature Vargas’ minimalist background approach to figurative art. Once considered racy, the images, showcasing subjects that have come to be known as Vargas girls, now seem quaint. Julien’s has assigned $30,000-$40,000 estimates to virtually all the lots, as so large a collection of Vargas originals has probably never tested the market at this scale.
Here are quick links to the Vargas originals:
Vargas almost uniformly used pencil and watercolor to create his art. The results were highly life-like while keeping the sexual tone humorous and merely suggestive. Playboy copywriters would add captions that pushed the suggestiveness into more obvious territory.
Highlights from the sale include:
Alberto Vargas, Playboy magazine October 1960, Then the patient in Room 12 turned around and tried to give me an alcohol rub.
Alberto Vargas, Playboy magazine April 1965, Can anyone beat my pair?
Alberto Vargas, Playboy magazine August 1964, You know, Captain, before you invited me on this cruise I really had no idea what the first mate was supposed to do.
Alberto Vargas, Playboy magazine April 1974, Lord Crumley says he has an excellent position for me.
