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Alberto Vargas’ first work for Playboy Magazine appeared September of 1960, exactly one year before the publication of this artwork. In this flirtatious view, a pretty brunette in a diaphanous pink nightgown smiles to the viewer after applying red lipstick to her full lips. This was generously gifted by Hugh Hefner and Playboy Magazine to an Easter Seals charity telethon auction in Chicago in the 1970s. This work was chosen specifically by the foundation, which wanted an image that could be shown on TV.

Vargas Girl – Playboy 1961

Artist: Alberto Vargas

Grapefruit Moon Gallery is delighted to offer Gil Elvgren’s original 1953 oil painting “Aw-Come On,” which was commissioned and completed for The Brown & Bigelow Calendar Company. One of the artist’s more enduring and popular pin-up images, this artwork features frequent model Myrna Hansen posed as a matador of sorts attempting to use her feminine wiles to persuade her disinterested poodle pup to take a turn in the ring.

Aw, Come On

Artist: Gil Elvgren

This never before offered for sale, large original Gil Elvgren calendar pin-up painting was originally commissioned by the Brown & Bigelow calendar company in 1950 for their “Miss Sylvania” advertising line. The stylized cobalt blue and neon light idealized view of Midtown Manhattan with The Sylvania Building ablaze in the night underscore the importance of the lighting and electric company to the city that never sleeps.

Miss Sylvania in Manhattan

Artist: Gil Elvgren

This 1937 dazzling and fresh (both in scene and technique) original mixed medium illustration painting by George Petty first appeared in Esquire Magazine as a full page color cartoon. It also was published as the first image of a spiral bound folio titled “Petty – A Portfolio from Esquire”. One of the crown jewels from the estate of Charles Martignette. The work is framed and matted behind glass and is a defining example of the lithe and modernist Art Deco Petty Girl.

No Particular Floor, Just Drive Up and Down

Artist: George Petty

Rolf Armstrong created this pastel titled “Come On In” for the Brown and Bigelow Calendar Company in 1941. The model is Jewel Flowers, Armstrong’s favorite subject and close friend. Originally, this pastel included the full body of the model, sitting in a pool with a Scottish Terrier. At some point, this illustration (like several other examples by Armstrong that have recently surfaced), was cut down to appear as a portrait. This was possibly altered by the artist himself, as Armstrong would rework and alter his pieces in the cases he retained physical possession of the originals, in order to reuse them for a second commission.

Come On In

Artist: Rolf Armstrong

An original pastel, gouache and graphite mixed media pin-up illustration by Frank D’Amario. Little has been written about D’Amario; we know that he worked for several calendar companies in the 1940s – 50s and was quite prolific producing dozens of published calendar pieces. Over our careers as antique dealers, we have sold many published examples of his work but his originals are scarce. This original pin-up illustration is beautifully framed and matted behind glass in a wide profile antique hand crafted gold painted basswood frame.

Sheer Mystery

Artist: Frank D'Amario

This is a dazzling, masterful original calendar commissioned pastel by Billy Devorss. The large scale, finely rendered artwork was created for the Louis F Dow company, and the lavishly attired young model is the artists wife Gleena. This keenly detailed art deco portrait expertly demonstrates the attention to culture, haute couture fashion, and style that set Devorss apart from his contemporaries. Pastel is properly lined and matted and comes framed in a lavish gold gilt carved fine museum quality frame.

The Emerald Girl

Artist: Billy DeVorss

This ravishing red headed pin-up illustration by the prolific American illustrator and fine artist Roy Besser epitomizes the mid century modern style of pin up art popularized by George Petty & Alberto Vargas. In the image, a perky sun loving bathing beauty in stylish cats eye sunglasses shows off her bad girl side with a coy and inviting smile. Signed lower right a gouache painting on illustration board and a published work for as of yet unidentified print usage. Handsomely framed and double matted behind glass.

Red Headed Pin Up

Artist: Roy Besser

The climactic beach scene in the 1953 film From Here to Eternity is interpreted in this artwork for the men’s magazine market, and given a lurid slant well suited for the sweats. This well rendered unsigned gouache on illustration board painting comes from a collection of published works from the early years of Saga Magazine, a lurid title that thrived in the post-war pulp men’s market of the early 1950s. The work is attributed to Edward Valigursky who worked for Saga during the period.

From Here To Eternity

Artist: Ed Valigursky (attributed)

In the rubble of a war-torn central square in what appears to be Cuba, a ravishing blonde in form fitting red sweater stands unscathed, and seemingly victorious. This unsigned gouache painting comes from a collection of works we recently acquired that date to the early years of Saga Magazine. Saga was a lurid Men’s title that thrived in the post-war pulp, low brow magazine market of the early 1950s. On the back of one of the pieces within the collection was a verso tag which read “attributed to Valigursky – For Saga Magazine 40’s – 50s.”

Shootout At The Cantina

Artist: Ed Valigursky (attributed)

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