Mayfair Magazine – December 1978 – Volume 13, Number 12 – Christmas Special

Original vintage Mayfair magazine from December 1978, featuring a special Christmas-themed edition, classic British glamour photography, vintage Lotus motoring, an investigation into poltergeists, period humour, fiction and lifestyle articles.

This is Mayfair's substantial Christmas edition, advertised on the front cover as "Our Biggest Issue Ever", containing 196 pages of seasonal entertainment.

Published in Britain by Fisk Publishing Co. Ltd., this issue provides an interesting example of late-1970s men's magazine publishing, combining photography, motoring journalism, social commentary, humour and festive features.

The original cover, contents page and back-cover advertisement are shown in the supplied photographs.

Magazine Details

• Publication: Mayfair – Entertainment for Men

• Date: December 1978

• Volume: 13

• Issue: Number 12

• Original UK Cover Price: £1.00

• Publisher: Fisk Publishing Co. Ltd.

• Editor: Kenneth Bound

• Country: United Kingdom

• Language: English

• Format: Vintage printed magazine

• Advertised Length: 196 pages

• Condition: Pre-owned vintage condition

• SKU: 1571

Front Cover – Christmas 1978 Special

The front cover features a distinctive festive studio photograph against a predominantly white background.

The photograph shows a brunette model with a short, layered hairstyle, wearing black lingerie, fishnet stockings and high-heeled shoes.

She is holding a collection of brightly coloured wrapped Christmas presents, including green and orange gift boxes.

An arm wearing a red Santa-style sleeve and white cuff enters from the right-hand side, completing the playful Christmas-themed composition.

The photograph reflects the colourful commercial glamour photography commonly associated with British men's magazines during the late 1970s.

The large MAYFAIR masthead appears across the top in orange-red lettering with a dark outline.

A prominent headline announces:

"Our Biggest Issue Ever: 196 Pages Packed with Christmas Cheer."

The cover also features an extensive list of articles, giving the issue a particularly busy, information-rich appearance.

Main Cover Features

15-Page Cavalcade of the Year's Greatest Girls

A retrospective photographic feature looking back at the magazine's featured models.

Hold Hard: It's the Wrestler's Nudest Wife

A personality-led photographic feature.

The Poltergeist Phenomenon Explained

An investigative article exploring claims of paranormal activity.

Miss Bertha and the Doctor: An Edwardian Examination

A period-themed photographic feature.

Pennywise Pootlers: Would You Believe the 1,000 MPG Car?

An unusual motoring article about fuel efficiency.

Stripped: Our Welsh Undresser

A photographic feature associated with Cardiff.

Blossoming Lotus: For the Motoring Elite

A motoring article about Lotus sports cars.

Les Grandes Horizontales: Belles of the Naughty Nineties

A historical feature exploring the fashion and culture of an earlier era.

What the Dickens? Scrooge's Sexy Christmas

A seasonal humorous interpretation of the famous Dickens character.

Schoolgirls and Stocking Tops: Memories of a Fumbled Youth

A nostalgia-themed feature.

Unwrapping for Santa: Sandra's Secret Fantasy

A Christmas-themed photographic feature.

Special Features and Articles

Who Threw That? – Page 48

Written by Marc Cramer

Subtitled The Shattering Truth About Poltergeists.

This article investigates the poltergeist phenomenon, a subject that attracted considerable public interest during the 1970s.

The feature reflects the popularity of paranormal investigations, unexplained events and supernatural theories during the period.

An interesting inclusion for collectors of vintage paranormal journalism.

Courtesans for Kings – Page 68

Written by Bernard Mendoza

Subtitled Loose Ladies of the Naughty Nineties.

A historical feature examining aspects of social life and entertainment during the late Victorian period.

The article connects with the cover's reference to Les Grandes Horizontales.

Economy Craze – Page 78

Written by Andrew Morland

Subtitled Would You Believe a 1000 MPG Car?

An unusual motoring feature exploring fuel efficiency and economical transportation.

Published during a period when fuel consumption and vehicle running costs were important motoring concerns, the article offers an interesting historical perspective on automotive efficiency.

Crow's Nest and Canvas – Page 100

Written by Richard Barnard

Subtitled By Barquentine to the Black Sea.

A travel and maritime feature describing a journey aboard a traditional sailing vessel.

An interesting inclusion for readers who collect historical travel journalism, sailing publications and maritime-related articles.

Carrie – Page 186

Written by Steve Kingston

Subtitled Santa's Not So Secret Surprise.

A seasonal feature contributing to the magazine's Christmas theme.

Classic Lotus Motoring Feature

Motoring – Page 132

Written by William Boddy

The contents page describes this feature as:

"Getting to the Heart of the Lotus."

This article explores Lotus automobiles, a British manufacturer closely associated with lightweight engineering, sports cars and motorsport.

The front cover promotes the article as Blossoming Lotus: For the Motoring Elite.

William Boddy was an established British motoring journalist and historian, making this a particularly relevant feature for collectors of vintage motoring literature.

The article is of potential interest to enthusiasts of:

• Classic Lotus sports cars.

• British automotive engineering.

• Vintage performance vehicles.

• 1970s motoring journalism.

• Historical Lotus advertising and design.

Photographic Features

The magazine's contents page identifies several photographic features, with individual models and photographer credits.

Jacqueline – Page 36

A feature titled Our Alluring Expatriate.

A personality-led glamour feature presented in the magazine's characteristic photographic style.

Janis – Page 72

Photography credited to Walter Frank

Titled A Most Designing Dolly.

A photographic presentation with a fashion and personality theme.

Celia – Page 90

Photography credited to Ed Alexander

Titled An Edwardian Erotic Romp.

The contents page includes a small black-and-white preview photograph captioned "Sweet Celia".

The feature uses an Edwardian-inspired theme, combining historical costume references with period-style glamour photography.

Bertha Under the Doctor – Page 104

Photography credited to Roger Pearson

Titled An Edwardian Erotic Romp on the cover, with the contents identifying the feature as Bertha Under the Doctor.

Another period-inspired feature reflecting the magazine's interest in theatrical and historical settings.

Sandra – Page 116

Photography credited to Michael Hammett

Titled Naughty Dreams About St Nicholas.

A Christmas-themed feature associated with the magazine's seasonal editorial content.

Charon – Page 125

Photography credited to Siver Ohlsson

Titled Cardiff's Prettiest Proofreader.

A photographic feature with a Welsh connection.

Catherine – Page 140

Photography credited to John Allum

Titled Stripped in White Stockings.

A fashion and glamour photographic feature.

Jan – Page 172

Photography credited to Roy Brewington

Titled Mrs Muscles Undresses.

A personality-led photographic feature.

Together, these sections demonstrate the variety of photographic themes included in this larger Christmas edition.

Humour and Christmas Entertainment

Scrooge! – Page 43

Written by Colin Leary

Described as A Leery Look at Dickens' Dourest Miser.

A seasonal humour feature inspired by Ebenezer Scrooge, the famous character from Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol.

Curtains Up, Pantos Down – Page 110

Written by Peter Maddocks

Subtitled Seasonal Entertainment Upstaged.

A humorous feature drawing on the British Christmas pantomime tradition.

Gentlemen, That Reminds Me – Page 139

A collection of jokes and humorous anecdotes.

Postman's Knocks – Page 147

Written by Paul White

Subtitled Party Games Lampooned.

A seasonal humour feature relating to traditional party entertainment.

Lifestyle and Additional Editorial Content

Making Scents – Page 120

Written by Veronica Kruger

A male buyer's guide to feminine perfume.

This feature provides an interesting example of late-1970s consumer advice and Christmas gift-buying culture.

Quest – Page 155

Titled Sex the Second Time Around.

Part of the magazine's regular reader-interest and lifestyle coverage.

Black Christmas at the Bayflowers – Page 32

Written by John Fergus Ryan

A Christmas-themed fictional story.

Reader Services

The contents page also identifies:

• Letters – Page 19.

• Book Club – Page 151.

• Back Numbers – Page 154.

• Quest Back Numbers – Page 162.

• Calendar Offer – Page 171.

• Subscription Details – Page 152.

• Critics: Books, Films and Discs – Page 150.

These regular sections provide an additional insight into the magazine's editorial format and readership during the late 1970s.

Vintage Advertising

Rémy Martin Champagne Cognac – Original Back Cover

The original back cover features a full-colour advertisement for Rémy Martin Fine Champagne Cognac.

The design uses a sophisticated festive composition featuring a dark cognac bottle with a gold label, held diagonally across the page.

Decorative Christmas foliage and warm highlights reinforce the seasonal presentation.

The advertisement includes the slogan:

"One can take the Christmas spirit too far."

The overall design is characteristic of late-1970s luxury drinks advertising, with understated typography, elegant product photography and a strong Christmas theme.

This surviving advertisement adds period character to the magazine and may interest collectors of vintage advertising and commercial graphic design.

Additional Advertising

A partial interior advertisement visible beside the contents page features Tchaikovsky, with a bottle and decorative serving arrangement.

The magazine also contains the usual mixture of contemporary commercial advertisements associated with its original publication period.

Condition Report – Important

Condition: Pre-owned vintage magazine with visible signs of age, handling and storage.

The magazine is not being described as mint or professionally graded.

Front Cover

The front cover remains present and displays its original Christmas-themed photograph and headlines clearly.

Visible condition details include:

• Light surface rubbing and scuffing.

• Minor age-related marks on the pale background.

• Small areas of discolouration.

• Light wear along the outer edges.

• Slight rounding and wear to the corners.

• Minor handling creases.

• Some wear around the spine and folded edge.

The upper-right corner appears slightly softened, and the lower edges show light handling wear.

The main cover artwork and printed lettering remain clearly recognisable.

Spine and Binding

The spine is present and the photographed magazine remains assembled.

The side-view photograph shows a substantial page block consistent with the larger Christmas issue.

There is visible rubbing and minor wear along the spine, together with light age-related handling marks.

No major separation of the photographed covers is apparent.

Interior Pages

The photographed contents page remains clearly legible.

Visible observations include:

• Light age-related paper toning.

• Minor page curvature.

• Slight handling marks.

• Light wear around some page edges.

• Small areas of discolouration consistent with age.

The contents page retains its original printed layout, including the gold-coloured contents panel and photographic previews.

Back Cover

The Rémy Martin advertisement remains present.

The back cover shows light surface marks and scuffs, particularly noticeable against the darker printed areas.

There is also minor edge and corner wear.

The original advertisement remains clearly visible and visually presentable.

Overall Condition

A vintage magazine showing normal signs of previous ownership and storage.

The photographed pages appear reasonably well preserved for their age, although the entire magazine has not been inspected page by page.

Please study all photographs carefully before purchasing, as they form part of the condition description.

No guarantee of complete page-by-page contents is made.

Original Extras and Promotional Items

This listing is for the original magazine only.

The contents page references a calendar offer, subscription details and other reader services.

Any loose gifts, promotional items, detachable inserts, vouchers or additional materials that may originally have accompanied the magazine are no longer included.

Only the magazine shown in the supplied photographs is being sold.

Packaging and Delivery

UK Orders

The magazine will be carefully packaged and dispatched in a protective hardback envelope to help reduce bending and damage during transit.

International Orders

International orders will be dispatched in a sturdy cardboard mailing-size box for additional protection.

The photographs show the actual magazine being offered.

Please review the photographs and condition description carefully before purchasing.

SKU: 1571