The very first cartoon ever to appear in Playboy #1 (otherwise known as the "Marilyn Monroe issue") is being auctioned off. This eye-opener was showcased in the December 1953 issue, on page 9. Its creator, Ben Denison, was an accomplished artist who produced scores of sizzling illustrations for Playboy during the magazine's critical, formative years.
The tasteful, yet provocative humor of this sultry scene captured the look and attitudes of the 1950's to a T -- in short, it was a perfect fit for the successful editorial formula of the magazine. This historic cartoon was also published in 1970's The Playboy Cartoon Album #1, a collection of Playboy's most famous cartoons. Estimate: $12,000 - $18,000.
