Is there a Playboy fan club?
Are my old Playboys worth anything?
Is there a Playboy collectors' club?
Why isn't there a March 1955 issue?
What are the stars on the cover of some issues?
When was the last issue to have staples?
Where can I buy back issues?
Is there a Playboy fan club?
Playboy maintains several active discussion groups on our Cyber Club where fans discuss the magazine and Playmates. Many fans are also members of the unofficial Playboy Mailing List.
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Are my old Playboys worth anything?
Most dealers are interested only in issues dated before January 1965 (and, more likely, issues dated before January 1956), although some have specific issues from later dates they're looking for in pristine condition or will purchase entire collections or runs if there are enough valuable issues included. The first issue in excellent condition (no tears, folds, tape repair, water marks or discoloring) retails for $2500 to $3500, but very few remain that pristine after so many years. Issues from the first two years (1953-1955) can sell for hundreds of dollars, depending on the date and dealer stock (by 1956 we were printing a million copies a month). Issues from the Sixties, Seventies and Eighties are even more plentiful and usually only worthwhile for a dealer or collector if they are in pristine condition. Even then, they're often worth less than $50 (and more likely less than $10). Production errors, such as duplicate pages, do not increase an issue's worth.
You can get some idea of what issues are currently selling for among collectors by ordering a catalog for $10 (preferably as a cashier's check or money order) from The Centerfold Shop, 1220 23rd Street, Suite 2PB, San Diego, CA 92102. The shop is not affiliated with Playboy but its owner, Doug Tracy, has been buying and selling back issues for more than 30 years. Another resource is the price guide compiled by Tom Bonner of the Playboy Collectors Association, available for $12 from P.O. Box 653, Phillipsburg, Missouri 65722. Finally, you can peruse the online catalog of dealer Ken Ritchie at pbmags.com, which includes his want list. Always include a self-addressed, stamped envelope when writing to collectors or dealers.
If you have issues that a dealer would like to buy, he will typically pay between 20 and 50 percent of retail, depending on demand. So a magazine offered in a catalog for $100 is worth only $20 to $50 when you're selling it. That's why many people list their back issues online at sites such as Ebay. These sites also can be helpful to get an idea of the demand for particular issues. You also may want to contact local magazine or rare book dealers (check the Yellow Pages for "Magazines--Used and Rare" or "Book Dealers--Used and Rare").
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Is there a Playboy collectors' club?
The Playboy Collectors Association was founded in 1987 by Tom Bonner to share information on collectible Playboy magazines and memorabilia. For more information, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to P.O. Box 653, Phillipsburg, Missouri 65722-0653 USA.
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Why isn't there a March 1955 issue?
Due to the rapid growth of the magazine, the staff couldn't meet the deadlines for the issue. So the March issue became the April issue. Since the early issues of the magazine had no advertising, there was no ad account or agency complaints to deal with, and all subscriptions were automatically extended one issue. The missing issue was not included in the numbering and so Volume 3, No. 1 appeared in January 1956 instead of December 1955.
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What are the stars on the cover of some issues?
Urban legend has it that the stars represent either the number of times Hef had slept with the Playmate of the Month or his rating of how good she was in bed. The actual explanation is less titillating. Except for a six-month period in 1976, the stars appeared on our covers from 1955 until 1979. The star system changed over the years, but it ranged from zero to 12 at its peak. The number of stars indicated the domestic or international advertising region for that edition of the magazine. The regions included a military edition, Canada, the United Kingdom, Chicago, Los Angeles metro, New York metro, eastern United States, southwestern United States, etc.
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When was the last issue to have staples?
The last issue with a stapled Centerfold was September 1985. Playboy began using a glued binding after that issue.
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Where can I buy back issues?
You can order back issues dating from 1966 to the present through the Playboy Store(1-800-423-9494). If the Playboy Store doesn't have the issue you're after, check your local Yellow Pages for "Book Dealers -- Used and Rare" or contact dealers listed under "Are my old Playboys worth anything?" (above).
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