The sale will include artwork by Hugh Hefner himself

Saucy Playboy art goes to auction

Erotic imagery and social commentary by Hugh Hefner's cartoon geniuses will sell at Heritage

Saucy imagery and art are colliding at Heritage Auction Galleries when it presents Hugh Hefner's Funnies: Over 55 Years of PLAYBOY Cartoons, on February 26

The sale will appear as part of Heritage's February 25-27 Signature® Comics and Comic Art Auction. As usual, the auction will be held both in the saleroom and online.

Remarkably, the collection will even include an illustration by Hefner himself.

Vargas Girl, October 1963 by Alberto Vargas (1896-1982)

One lot, from January 31, 1954, dates to the early days of Playboy, America's famous erotica magazine, when the young Hefner was an aspiring cartoonist. It is estimated at $1,500-2,000.

Thereafter, Playboy magazine became a safe haven for cartoonists looking to incorporate social commentary and other freedoms into their works.

Many of them are today regarded as being among the most brilliant, unique and edgy artists of their era.

Just Add Mistletoe by Alberto Vargas, estimated at $35k-40k

Star lots in Heritage's sale will include a number of pin-ups by Alberto Vargas, the magazine's most renowned artist.

Three collectible watercolours: Vargas Girl, Playboy illustration, October 1963, Vargas Girl, Playboy illustration, December 1963, and Vargas Girl, Playboy illustration, February 1964 are all for sale.

Each carries a titillating estimate of $30,000-$50,000, and represents Vargas at the very top of his game.

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Image: Heritage Auction Galleries