The culture of America and indeed the world changed in 1953 when Hugh Hefner published the first issue of Playboy. Hef, then an unknown, went on to become the international symbol for playboys. No doubt that the first issue was key to his success and in a very shrewd move he put the heartthrob of America, Marilyn Monroe, on the cover and more importantly shown nude in photographs that remain as famous as ever, roughly 70 years later. This example is VG and 100% complete with no tears, though there is evidence of some water damage and folding at the corners. These magazines have seen a dramatic rise in price over the years and with Marilyn herself depicted within (though not in a fold-out - those would come later), it's easy to see why the publication "took off."