Originals vs. Facsimiles
Originals vs. Facsimiles
Here are 2 examples of the same collectible. The one on the right is an original 1st Edition of Playboy magazine published in December of 1953. The facsimile on the left is an almost perfect replica published in 2005 to tie in with and be included in a special all digital CD-Rom set of the first 10 years of every Playboy magazine. At the time these sets were released they retailed for $150. The original 1st Edition had a print run of approximately 52,000 copies. Our guess is that the Facsimile had at least 2000 printed.
Today a 1st Edition Playboy in good to very good condition can command between $2500 and $4500 (depending on physical condition, brightness of coloration, lack of rust on the staples, and artwork separations all in sync). The Facsimile was at one time (circa 2006~2007) made available through Playboy’s website for under $30. The Facsimile’s were also included in the very rare and expensive 6 volume limited edition of Hugh Hefner’s autobiography (published December 2009 by Taschen) that retails for $1300 with a print run of 1500. Here’s a link:
http://www.taschen.com/pages/en/catalogue/sex/all/02701/facts.hugh_hefners_playboy_6_volumes.htm
Today a Facsimile in good to very good condition could command as much as $100 or more (still a bargain!).
Playboy came up with a novel way to ensure that Facsimile’s would not be mistaken for Originals. On the right hand facing “Editorial” page Playboy took the word “PLAYBOY” (all caps) and moved it down a line in the second paragraph. If you compare the Original and the Facsimile, you can see the change.
The coloration on the Facsimile is slightly off from the Original. Colors that were orange in the Original are redder in the Facsimile. The exception is with the famous Marilyn Monroe nude. It is much sharper and color correct in the Facsimile than in the Original. Note that Marilyn’s cheeks are almost red in the Original, where in the Facsimile they are a more normal shade, matching the skin tone of her face and body.
If you can’t afford the Original a good copy of the Facsimile will still, one day, be a collector’s item! If you want one, we can get it for you.
Here are 2 examples of the same collectible. The one on the right is an original 1st Edition of Playboy magazine published in December of 1953. The facsimile on the left is an almost perfect replica published in 2005 to tie in with and be included in a special all digital CD-Rom set of the first 10 years of every Playboy magazine. At the time these sets were released they retailed for $150. The original 1st Edition had a print run of approximately 52,000 copies. Our guess is that the Facsimile had at least 2000 printed.
Today a 1st Edition Playboy in good to very good condition can command between $2500 and $4500 (depending on physical condition, brightness of coloration, lack of rust on the staples, and artwork separations all in sync). The Facsimile was at one time (circa 2006~2007) made available through Playboy’s website for under $30. The Facsimile’s were also included in the very rare and expensive 6 volume limited edition of Hugh Hefner’s autobiography (published December 2009 by Taschen) that retails for $1300 with a print run of 1500. Here’s a link:
http://www.taschen.com/pages/en/catalogue/sex/all/02701/facts.hugh_hefners_playboy_6_volumes.htm
Today a Facsimile in good to very good condition could command as much as $100 or more (still a bargain!).
Playboy came up with a novel way to ensure that Facsimile’s would not be mistaken for Originals. On the right hand facing “Editorial” page Playboy took the word “PLAYBOY” (all caps) and moved it down a line in the second paragraph. If you compare the Original and the Facsimile, you can see the change.
The coloration on the Facsimile is slightly off from the Original. Colors that were orange in the Original are redder in the Facsimile. The exception is with the famous Marilyn Monroe nude. It is much sharper and color correct in the Facsimile than in the Original. Note that Marilyn’s cheeks are almost red in the Original, where in the Facsimile they are a more normal shade, matching the skin tone of her face and body.
If you can’t afford the Original a good copy of the Facsimile will still, one day, be a collector’s item! If you want one, we can get it for you.
