Playboy's College Girls # 9 (1999) March 1999 Magazine Back Issue

Models
Aimee Werth
Leana Pennington
Diana Baranowska
Natalie Brooks
Sylvia Kelly
Heather Chadwell
Natasha Podkuyko
Amanda Kelley
Misti Magouirk
Lexi Ashby
Alicia Williams
Samantha Crawford
Megan McKenney
Jeannette Kizirian
Tracy Callihan
Kristen Stork
Brenda Stock
Cheryl Stell
Alejandra Cruz
Emily Alexander
Catherine and Isabelle Bourassa (twins)
Brandy Ritchey
Amy Huff
Candice Buchanan
Star Behl
Cristin Fitzpatrick
Carolee Bass
Stacey Marie
Sally Gerelus
Erica Smitheman
Angie Baker

Girls of the Atlantic Coast Conference
Sheila Bell (cover girl)
Brandy Marie
Sarah Stottlemyer
Koshala Myers
Dana Faison
Kim Ziegler
Amy Biggerstaff
Sasha Belle
Jerbrena Carter
Michelle Smith
Summer Jehs
Melissa Blizzard
Jordan Daneils
Penelope Strong
Adina Reed
Kelly Williams
Neha Patel
Stephanie Leann
Jenna Langston
Emily Wade
Cameo Nunez
Kathleen Hancock
Kelly Edmond
Erin Evans
Tina Luciano
Misty Dorsey
Juli Kushner
Caroline Wilson
Salina Faith
Hege Holloway
Samantha White
Nancy Bannon
Alissa Wahl
Larissa Perez
Brandee Potts
Brandi High
Veronica Traub

• Covergirl Sheila Bell Photographed by Andrew Goldman
• Stephanie Leann
• Adina Reed
• Brandy Marie
• Michelle Smith

Playboy's original title was to be "Stag Party," but an unrelated outdoor magazine, Stag, contacted Hefner and informed him that they would legally protect their trademark if he were to launch his magazine with that name. Hefner and co-founder and executive vice president Eldon Sellers met to discuss the problem and to seek a new name. Sellers, whose mother had worked for the short-lived Playboy Automobile Company in Chicago, suggested the name "Playboy". The first issue, published in December 1953, did not carry a date, as Hugh Hefner was unsure whether there would be a second issue. The first centerfold was Marilyn Monroe, although the picture used had originally been taken for a calendar, rather than for Playboy. The first issue was an immediate sensation; it sold out within a matter of weeks. Known circulation was 53,991 (Source: Playboy Collector's Association Playboy Magazine Price Guide). The cover price was 50¢. Copies of the first issue in Mint to Near Mint condition fetched over $8,000 in 2007. The famous logo, depicting the stylized profile of a rabbit wearing a tuxedo bow tie, was designed by art designer Art Paul for the magazine's second issue and has appeared on every issue since; a running joke in the magazine involves hiding the logo somewhere in the cover art or photograph. Hefner said that he chose the rabbit as a mascot for its "humorous sexual connotation", and because the image was "frisky and playful". An urban legend started about Hefner and the Playmates of the Month because of markings on the front covers of the magazine. From 1955 to 1979 (except for a six month gap in 1976), the "P" in Playboy had a number of stars printed in or around the letter. The legend stated that this was either a rating that Hefner gave to the Playmate according to how attractive she was, the number of times that Hefner had slept with her, or how good she was in bed. The stars, which ranged in number between zero and twelve, actually indicated the domestic or international advertising region for that printing. Since reaching its peak in the 1970s, Playboy has seen a decline in circulation and cultural relevance because of increased competition in the field it founded — first from Penthouse, Oui, and Gallery in the 1970s; later from pornographic videos; and more recently from lad mags such as Maxim, FHM, and Stuff. In response Playboy has attempted to re-assert its hold on the 18–35 male demographic it once controlled through slight changes to its content and focusing on issues and personalities more appropriate to its audience—such as hip-hop artists being featured in the Playboy Interview. Christie Hefner, a daughter of Hugh Hefner, became the CEO of Playboy in 1988 and is now also the Chairman of the Board. The magazine celebrated its 50th Anniversary with the January 2004 issue. Celebrations were held at Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New York, and Moscow during the year to commemorate this event. The best-selling Playboy edition was the November 1972 edition, which sold 7,161,561 copies. One-fourth of all American college men were buying the magazine every month. It is interesting to note that although this issue is available in abundance, it is very difficult for collectors to find this issue in excellent condition. The black ink on the cover wore off easily and it is difficult to find this issue with a bright clean crisp black color. A Near Mint copy of this issue is a hard find. Perhaps coincidentally, a cropped image of the issue's centerfold (which featured Lena Soderberg) became a standard image for testing image processing algorithms. It is known simply as the "Lenna" (also "Lena") image in that field. Many people ask about Playboy UK, Playboy USA is the same issue that was issued in the UK because there was no need to translate the magazine. So, Playboy USA and Playboy UK are the same magazine.

Playboy is an American men's lifestyle and entertainment magazine. It was founded in Chicago in 1953, by Hugh Hefner and his associates, and funded in part by a $1,000 loan from Hefner's mother. Notable for its centerfolds of nude and semi-nude models (Playmates), Playboy played an important role in the sexual revolution and remains one of the world's best-known brands, having grown into Playboy Enterprises, Inc., with a presence in nearly every medium. In addition to the flagship magazine in the United States, special nation-specific versions of Playboy are published worldwide. The magazine has a long history of publishing short stories by notable novelists such as Arthur C. Clarke, Ian Fleming, Vladimir Nabokov, Saul Bellow, Chuck Palahniuk, P. G. Wodehouse, Roald Dahl, Haruki Murakami, and Margaret Atwood. With a regular display of full-page color cartoons, it became a showcase for notable cartoonists, including Harvey Kurtzman, Jack Cole, Eldon Dedini, Jules Feiffer, Shel Silverstein, Erich Sokol, Roy Raymonde, Gahan Wilson, and Rowland B. Wilson. Playboy features monthly interviews of notable public figures, such as artists, architects, economists, composers, conductors, film directors, journalists, novelists, playwrights, religious figures, politicians, athletes, and race car drivers. The magazine generally reflects a liberal editorial stance, although it often interviews conservative celebrities.