[Loren, Sophia] Service, G.W.

American Beauty Series, No. 2: Sophia Loren (Vintage digest magazine)

New York: Barpat, 1950s. Vintage digest magazine devoted to b/w pinup photos of Sophia Loren, including candids, studio portraits, film stills, and a centerfold of the seminude appearance from "Era lui, sì, sì!" (1951), Loren as an odalisque. Biographical foreword beginning with mention of marriage to Carlo Ponti, and editorial on Loren as "Mediterrean [sic] Charmer." 26 images and 2 that are questionably Loren, one appears more Abbe Lane. A scarce necessity for the enthusiast, other titles by publisher equally so. Barpat part of the underground "proto-porn" digests that spawned camera clubs, fetish work for Bettie Page, celebrity tributes, many fronting as "art studies" for artist or photographer.

5.5 x 8.5 inches, 32pp, monochrome wrapper, saddle-stapled. Very Good overall, small pencil to front, a few small scratches, light rubbing and edge fading, wrapper slightly offset. [Book ID 126581]