BUZZ BEAT MEDIA

Julien’s Auctions, the industry leading entertainment auction house, announced today “FINE ART OF THE PLAYBOY ARCHIVE” taking place Wednesday, December 18^th, 2024 live at Julien’s Studios in Los Angeles and online at Julien’s Auctions.

The auction concludes Julien’s “The Art of Playboy” year-long series of record setting sales, “Icons: Playboy, Hugh Hefner X Marilyn Monroe,” and “Illustration Art of the Playboy Archive Auction” that sold over a thousand rare pieces from the archive of Playboy Enterprises which included Mid-century masterpieces, furniture, clothing, memorabilia and more that have been unseen since during the Golden Age of the iconic global brand.

This significant collection of Fine Art coming to auction for the first time will present over 300 items notably rare paintings, drawings, and sculpture that appeared in the pages of the magazine from the 1950’s to the 1990’s by Playboy’s most celebrated artists such as LeRoy Neiman, Alberto Vargas and Richard Hunt as well as Shel Silverstein, Robert Branham, Will Elder, Edward Avedisian, David Wedgbury, and more with a selection of illustrators from Chicago and the Midwest, whom Hugh Hefner championed.

Many of these artworks appeared in the magazine to illustrate stories and articles written by Playboy’s heralded guest writers and famous authors such as Vladimir Nabokov, Roald Dahl, Joyce Carol Oates, Norman Mailer, and Ray Bradbury. Also on offer are Mid-century Modern architectural renderings, visual works and memorabilia related to Playboy’s most recognized iconography such as the Playboy Bunny and Playboy Mansion.

Fine Art Collection highlights include:

LeRoy NeimanJamaica Paintingoil on masoniteAppeared in the January 1971 issue of Playboy 36 x 27.5 inches Estimate: US$30,000 -$40,000/ HK$234,000-312,000	Tony CurtisStill Life Painting1989 30 x 20 inches Estimate: US$2,000-$3,000/ HK$15,600-23,400	Alberto VargasRed Head with Cheetahappeared on page 148 of the February 1972 issue of Playboy Magazine 30 x 20  inches Estimate: US$10,000 -$20,000/ HK$78,000-156,000

Gambling-themed highlights include:

David Wedgbury Bunny Casino Paintingof a Playboy Bunny with a roulette wheel  Oil on canvas36 x 48.5 inches Estimate: US$800-1,200 / HK$6,240-9,360	David WedgburyPlaymate Greyhound Racing Oil on canvas36 x 48.5 inches Estimate: US$800-1,200 / HK$6,240-9,360	Hugh Hefner’s Personalized Dominoes, each personalized with “HMH/(Rabbit Head Logo)” on one side Estimate: US$400-$600/ HK$3,120-4,680

Highlights from the HMH Collection as well as Playboy memorabilia:

Richard Hunt （1935-2023）Rabbit Head Logo Bronze Sculpturelabeled “Rabbit Logo for the Annual Report/ Jun-89 27 x 25 x 6.5 inchesEstimate: US$6,000-8,000 / HK$46,800-62,400	Ed Paschke（1939-2004）Rainbow Rabbit Head Sculptureoriginal mixed media neon wall sculpture, signed on verso and dated 1993.Displayed in the lobby of Playboy’s New York office, and appeared on the January 1994 cover of Playboy magazine. 75 x 45 x 4.5 inchesEstimate: US$8,000-10,000 / HK$62,400-78,000	Arthur “Art” Paul Bronze 1981 printing plate of Playboy’s Rabbit Head logo used to make embossed paper limited edition signed prints 15 x 14 inchesEstimate: US$2,000-$3,000/ HK$15,600-23,400

Gaming/ toys highlights include:

Atari Centipede Arcade Video Game from the Playboy Mansion Game Room, serial number 16593. Circa 1981. 70 x 25.5 x 32.5 inchesEstimate: US$2,000-$3,000/ HK$15,600-23,400	Hugh Hefner Custom-Made Monopoly Game Pieces, including Playboy Bunny marker pieces and custom printed Monopoly money featuring Hefner’s face and the Playboy Mansion Estimate: US$2,000-3,000 / HK$15,600-23,400	A vintage Bally 1978 framed Playboy pinball blackglass art piece. Displayed on the wall of the game room at the Playboy Mansion.  29.25 x 31 x 5 inchesEstimate: US$300-$500/ HK$2,340-3,900

Image download Link HERE

Live and Online Auction

Wednesday, December 18

“FINE ART OF THE PLAYBOY ARCHIVE” 

10:00 am Pacific Time

(December 19, 2:00am HKT)

REGISTER TO BID

Registration is required to bid in this auction and can be done in person on the day of the auction, or online before the sale at Julien’s Auctions.

For inquiries, please email [email protected] or call 310-836-1818.

PLACING BIDS

There are three ways to bid in Live Auctions:

1. Bid with Julien’s Auctions online. You can either place a bid at the next increment, or leave a maximum bid which will be executed against other competitive bids.
2. Bid over the telephone through an auction house representative.
3. Bid in person in the room at our auction events.

Julien’s Auctions accepts cryptocurrency payments, including Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, DAI, Ethereum, Litecoin, Dogecoin, and USD Coin.

*All Photos from Julien’s Auction