Alberto Vargas pin-up art from the Playboy magazine collection sashays to Julien’s March 28-30

Alberto Vargas, Playboy April 1965 watercolor drawing, estimated at $30,000-$40,000 at Julien's.

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:

Session 1

Session 2

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.

Alberto Vargas, Playboy April 1974 watercolor drawing, estimated at $30,000-$40,000 at Julien's.

Alberto Vargas, Playboy April 1974 watercolor drawing, estimated at $30,000-$40,000 at Julien's.

Alberto Vargas, Playboy April 1965 watercolor drawing, estimated at $30,000-$40,000 at Julien's.

Alberto Vargas, Playboy April 1965 watercolor drawing, estimated at $30,000-$40,000 at Julien's.

Alberto Vargas, Playboy October 1960 watercolor drawing, estimated at $30,000-$40,000 at Julien's.

Alberto Vargas, Playboy October 1960 watercolor drawing, estimated at $30,000-$40,000 at Julien's.

Alberto Vargas, Playboy August 1964 watercolor drawing, estimated at $30,000-$40,000 at Julien's.

Alberto Vargas, Playboy August 1964 watercolor drawing, estimated at $30,000-$40,000 at Julien's.

Jim Bunte

Jim Bunte

Jim Bunte has worked in editorial, design and the toy and auction industries for more than 30 years. He co-founded Auction Central News in 2007.

Holabird plans 3,200-lot auction spectacular, Oct. 28-Nov. 1

Hollow silver bead bear claw necklace with central turquoise cabochon, est. $2,000-$4,000
Hollow silver bead bear claw necklace with central turquoise cabochon, est. $2,000-$4,000
Bear claw necklace with central turquoise cabochon, est. $2,000-$4,000

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Vargas pinup commands $100K at Heritage sale

Alberto Vargas, ‘Mara Corday, True Girl,’ February 1952, which sold for $100,000
Alberto Vargas, ‘Mara Corday, True Girl,’ February 1952, which sold for $100,000
Alberto Vargas, ‘Mara Corday, True Girl,’ February 1952, which sold for $100,000

DALLAS – One of the most iconic and important pinup images ever created, Alberto Vargas’s Mara Corday, True Girl, February 1952, sold for $100,000 to lead Heritage Auctions’ April 30 Illustration Art auction to $2.2 million in total sales. The model in the image, Mara Corday, is captured in the signature V-leg pose that was Vargas’s calling card in her second sitting for the artist – he lost the rights to the first, and other images he signed as “Varga,” in a years-long legal battle with Esquire magazine. Esquire sued the artist for the works signed “Vargas” in True but ultimately failed. This win and the publication of his nine True Girls, including the present work, revitalized the artist and his career.

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