Harem: Sexy Nude Girl Illustration for Playboy. First Black Illustrator, Elmer Simms Campbell,

Elmer Simms Campbell : Playboy Magazine ran this joke cartoon illustration in color on page 43 for the October 1960 edition.
Signed lower right.
The work is executed on a heavy Whatman Illustration board. The caption is " I'd like to exchange this forty--for two twenties" is done on another illustration board and it is glued to the Whatman board. Whatman board dimensions 16 5/8 x 13. The top illustration board dimensions are 14 1/4 x 17 3/4.
The uploaded video on 1stDibs is coming up a bit off color. Refer to the still images for more accurate color
E. Simms Campbel was the first major African American Illustrator. He did covers for Esquire Magazine starting in the 1930s. He is a historically important but overlooked American Artist.
He created the famous bulging-eyed Esquire Mascot “Esky.”
He also worked for The Chicagoan, Cosmopolitan, Ebony, The New Yorker, Playboy, Opportunity: A Journal of Negro Life, Pictorial Review, and Redbook.
This work, "What do you mean your wife doesn't understand you ---- I'm your wife!" is from Cuties Daily Comic Strip, June 18, 1950
He was inducted into the Society of Illustrators' Hall of Fame in 2002.
Watercolor,Gouache,Pencil,Illustration Board
13.5 - 10.5 inches
US$25,000 Plus shipping