Goldin Offers Playboy #1 with Iconic Marilyn Monroe Cover Signed by Hugh Hefner, Certified by CGC x JSA

Turn on some jazz and relax in your favorite smoking jacket, as you browse through the magazines graded by Certified Guaranty Company® (CGC®) that are offered in Goldin Auctions’ July Pop Culture Elite Auction on August 2, 2025. From groundbreaking debuts to celebrity covers, these slabbed collectibles are drawing serious attention.

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Among the highlights of this auction is a Playboy #v1 #1 graded CGC 8.0 with a JSA-verified signature by Hugh Hefner (lot 8).

The first issue of Playboy magazine, published in December 1953, introduced the world to Hugh Hefner’s bold new vision of sophistication, sexuality and pop culture, anchored by Marilyn Monroe’s unforgettable centerfold. Hefner purchased the rights to the photos just as Monroe's star was rising, launching Playboy and its founder into instant cultural relevance. More than a magazine, Playboy became a symbol of the sexual revolution and Hefner’s philosophy of modern leisure and freedom.

This particular copy features a JSA-certified Hugh Hefner signature, a rare and iconic pairing that ties together two legends whose names remain forever linked in American history. There are currently 400 examples of Playboy #v1 #1 in the CGC Population Report, but only two signed issues with the CGC x JSA authentic autograph label.

Other CGC-certified magazines in this auction include:

• a Playboy #v37 #3 graded CGC 8.0 with a JSA-verified signature by Brandi Brandt (lot 1482)
• an Entertainment Weekly #1132 graded CGC 9.6 (lot 1483)
• a Marilyn Monroe Pin-Ups #nn graded CGC 3.0 (lot 1475)
• a Time #v19 #5 graded CGC 6.5 (lot 1477)
• a New Yorker #v1 #1 graded CGC 7.5 (lot 1476)
• a New York Magazine #v13 #20 graded CGC 7.0 (lot 1481)
• a Beauty Parade #v14 #3 graded CGC 3.0 (lot 1480)
• an Eyeful #v8 #6 graded CGC 6.5 (lot 1479)
• a Whisper #v3 #1 graded CGC 7.0 (lot 1474)

About CGC

Since revolutionizing comic book grading in 2000, CGC has grown to include certification services for a vast variety of pop culture collectibles. These divisions include CGC Cards, CGC Video Games and CGC Home Video. CGC Cards provides expert card grading for sports cards, TCGs and non-sports cards. CGC Video Games is dedicated to video game grading for the most popular consoles, including Nintendo, Sega, Atari, PlayStation and more. CGC Home Video provides expert VHS grading in addition to other types of videocassettes, DVD, Blu-ray and more. CGC also offers seamless solutions for autograph collectors with CGC Signature Series and JSA Authentic Autograph services.