LOS ANGELES – Julien’s Auctions will sell property from the collection of Playboy founder and publisher Hugh M. Hefner on Friday, Nov. 30, and Saturday, Dec. 1.
The auction will celebrate the rebel entrepreneur who launched the groundbreaking men’s lifestyle magazine and built it into an empire by transforming Playboy into an iconic global brand. The sale will take place in Beverly Hills, California.
It was also announced today that all proceeds of the auction of the legendary magazine founder, who was recognized as one of the leading voices in the ongoing battles for freedom of expression, civil rights and sexual freedom, including reproductive and LGBT rights, will benefit the Hugh M. Hefner Foundation. Since its founding in 1964, the foundation has supported organizations that advocate for and defend civil rights and civil liberties, with special emphasis on First Amendment rights and rational sex and drug policies.
In December 1953, with $8,000 cobbled together from family and friends, Hefner published the first issue of Playboy featuring a nude pinup shot of Marilyn Monroe as the centerfold. The issue sold more than 50,000 copies and a publishing phenomenon was born.
Some highlights of the auction include:
– Hefner’s complete personal set of bound volumes of Playboy magazines (estimate: $20,000–$40,000).
– A 1946 coin-operated Wurlitzer jukebox programmed by Hefner from his game house containing 24 original 78 rpm record albums by artists such as Artie Shaw, Frank Sinatra, Harry James, Johnny Mercer, Lena Horne, and others (estimate: $10,000–$20,000).
– Hefner’s five large folio volumes of Salvador Dali’s Biblia Sacra (estimate: $8,000–$10,000).
– Artist Bill Mack’s portrait of Hefner painted in commemoration of the restoration of the Hollywood sign in 1978 (estimate: $4,000–$6,000).
– Hefner’s bespoke smoking jacket (estimate: $3,000–$5,000) and silk pajamas (estimate: $1,000–$2,000).
– Hefner’s personal copy of the first issue of Playboy magazine, in 1953 featuring Marilyn Monroe on the cover (estimate: $3,000–$5,000).
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