Back in 1953 Hugh Hefner decided to create a magazine for adults called Stag Party but luckily for us a popular outdoor magazine, Stag, contested the name so Hefner came up with Playboy. The first issue featured Marilyn Monroe on the cover wearing a very, very low cut top that was the center of much controversy during that time. The photo was taken during the 1952 Miss America Parade, and the picture that appeared inside the magazine was intended to be used for a calendar.
Due to the fact that Hugh wasn’t sure if the magazine would succeed there were two things missing on the cover of the first issue; the actual issue number and more importantly, the Playboy bunny which made it’s debut on issue #2.
If you’re looking to pick up a piece of bunny history be careful of fakes floating around and the reprint from 2007, which makes it even more difficult to distinguish the worthy original. The reprint has a black rectangle in the upper right corner and uses three staples to bind it together. The original print does not have the black rectangle and it only uses two staples along its binding.
The original print run was of 53,991 copies and at 50¢ each they sold out in just 2 weeks.
Ready to invest? Even without the bunny the first and most expensive issue of Playboy will set you back a furry $6,500.00 USD.



