The Best from Playboy

Spanning three issues from 1964 to 1971, The Best from Playboy collected the finest cartoons and humorous illustrations from the pages of the iconic men's magazine, presented by Playboy Press. Most associated with the talented Claude Smith, who contributed both as writer and artist, the series served as a curated showcase of the magazine's sophisticated, risqué humor during the swinging sixties. It matters as a snapshot of mid-century gag cartooning at its most polished and provocative, capturing a specific cultural moment in glossy, single-panel form.