Fine Books & Manuscripts

Hefner, Hugh. Extensive Archive of Early Hugh Hefner Correspondence. 1943—46. An extraordinary and revealing archive consisting of over 60 typed signed letters, and some autograph letters, between one and nine pages each, many embellished with original ink cartoon drawings by Hefner in the margins or on accompanying mailing covers, some accomplished in color, dating from Hefner’s last year of high school in Chicago to his two-year service in the Army, first in a reserve camp in Madison, Wisc. and later at camps in Texas, Oklahoma, Virginia, and Maryland, all addressed to Jane Borson, one of his closest high school friends and confidants, and lifelong correspondent, together with early snapshots of Hefner and other members of his high school “gang” (the earliest dated 1942), high school yearbook clippings, and a photo of Hefner’s first wedding (1949) to Millie Williams, kissing the bride. The whole collection is neatly and chronologically organized in a binder, as organized by Borson, with her typed summary of the letters, prefaced by a TLS on Playboy letterhead, May 31, 2002, signed “Hef,” in which he writes: “As I understand it, the contents of personal correspondence is the legal property of the person who wrote the letters, but you have my permission to do whatever you like with them. They are yours with my love—for all the dreams and memories we’ve shared."