Penthouse Magazine – August 1978 – Volume 13 Number 5

Original Vintage British Edition | Oliver Reed | Suzuki 550 GT | Pet of the Year Playoff | 1970s Photography & Journalism

An original August 1978 UK edition of Penthouse Magazine, Volume 13, Number 5, featuring a distinctive vintage photographic cover, an Oliver Reed profile, a Suzuki GT550 motorcycle competition, the magazine's annual Pet of the Year playoff and a wide selection of original 1970s editorial features.

Published during the late 1970s, this issue combines celebrity journalism, social commentary, fiction, humour, competitions, photography and contemporary British popular culture.

The magazine is particularly interesting for its coverage of British actor Oliver Reed, its period Suzuki motorcycle promotion and its original editorial photography.

This is an original vintage magazine, not a modern reproduction.

Front Cover – Original August 1978 Edition

The front cover features an atmospheric colour photograph of a young woman with voluminous, curly brown hair, photographed in a seated pose.

She wears a loose, white off-the-shoulder outfit with decorative ruffled edging and a prominent yellow flower positioned at the neckline.

Her hairstyle partially obscures her eyes, creating a distinctive, softly dramatic photographic composition typical of late-1970s fashion and editorial photography.

The setting includes a blue-purple background and a patterned blue surface beneath the model.

A single light-coloured high-heeled sandal is positioned towards the lower-left corner of the photograph.

The overall composition combines soft natural tones, contrasting colours and a relaxed pose, creating a recognisably 1970s magazine aesthetic.

The large PENTHOUSE masthead is printed in bright yellow across the upper cover.

Beneath the title appears the publication's original description:

The International Magazine for Men.

The upper-right corner identifies the issue as Volume 13, Number 5, with its original UK cover price of 75p.

Original Cover Features

Win a £1500 Suzuki 550 GT Motorcycle

A prominent cover promotion advertising a Suzuki GT550 motorcycle competition.

Pet of the Year Playoff Issue

An edition featuring the magazine's annual photographic competition and reader voting.

The Sexual Jungle

An investigative feature exploring behaviour in the animal kingdom.

Oliver Reed – The Last of the Great Male Chauvinists

A profile examining the outspoken British actor's personality and public image.

Love Ltd

A report investigating Britain's escort services during the 1970s.

Jokers Wild

A feature involving 52 British artists and their interpretations of playing-card imagery.

The combination of celebrity coverage, original photography, social investigations and vintage promotional material makes this an interesting example of British magazine publishing from 1978.

Featured Articles and Editorial Contents

The photographed contents page confirms the following original features.

Oliver Reed – Page 24

Profile by Tania Brasset

One of the most notable articles in this issue concerns celebrated British actor Oliver Reed.

The magazine presents Reed under the headline The Last of the Great Male Chauvinists.

Reed was internationally known for his performances in films including Oliver!, Women in Love, The Devils and The Three Musketeers.

He was also widely recognised for his outspoken personality and unconventional public image.

This contemporary 1978 profile provides a period perspective on Reed during an established stage of his acting career.

The article may be particularly interesting to collectors of British cinema, classic film personalities and vintage celebrity journalism.

Suzuki GT550 Motorcycle Competition – Page 56

The magazine advertises a competition offering readers the opportunity to win a Suzuki 550 GT motorcycle, valued on the cover at £1,500.

The Suzuki GT550 was a distinctive three-cylinder two-stroke motorcycle associated with the 1970s.

This competition provides an interesting piece of original period motoring history.

It reflects the motorcycles, consumer interests and promotional campaigns of the era.

Please note: This was an original 1978 competition and is no longer valid. No motorcycle or competition prize is included.

The Beauty of the Beasts – Page 19

Investigation by Hy Freedman

An investigative article examining mating and reproductive behaviour within the animal kingdom.

The feature explores comparisons between animal behaviour and human social attitudes.

It reflects the magazine's characteristic mixture of science-related journalism, provocative discussion and contemporary cultural commentary.

Love Ltd – Page 58

The Sexual Professions: The Escort

An investigative survey examining Britain's escort services during the late 1970s.

The accompanying editorial introduction indicates that the magazine continues its examination of the subject through an interview with an escort.

The feature provides a contemporary perspective on the social attitudes, commercial services and investigative reporting of the period.

Pet of the Year Playoff – Page 64

Original Photographic Feature

This issue includes the magazine's annual Pet of the Year playoff.

The accompanying editorial text explains that readers were invited to vote for their preferred finalist.

The feature represents an important part of Penthouse's original publishing history and its reader-participation competitions.

It may be of interest to collectors documenting the magazine's annual photographic awards and competitions.

Card Sharp – Page 76

The Joker in the Pack

A photographic feature associated with playing-card imagery.

The cover promotes the subject as Jokers Wild, referring to a collection involving 52 British artists.

This feature provides an unusual example of the magazine's interest in artistic interpretations and visual design.

California Classic – Page 30

Pictorial by Carl Miller

A photographic feature with a California theme.

The contents page credits Carl Miller for the pictorial.

Strangers on a Train – Page 38

Fiction by Wendy Perriam

A fictional story titled Love on the Bowl.

Wendy Perriam was a British novelist and short-story writer whose work frequently explored relationships, social conventions and personal experiences.

This contribution adds literary interest to the magazine.

Barbara Ann – Page 43

Pictorial by Malinowski

A photographic feature listed under the title Barbara Ann.

Call Me Madam – Page 80

Advice by Xaviera Hollander

The magazine's regular advice column.

Xaviera Hollander was a well-known author and columnist whose work became associated with changing social attitudes during the 1970s.

Her contributions formed a recognisable part of Penthouse's editorial identity.

Wicked Wanda – Page 86

Cartoon by Ron Embleton and Fred Mullally

An illustrated humour feature from the magazine's regular Wicked Wanda series.

The contents page credits Ron Embleton and Fred Mullally.

This is of particular interest to collectors of vintage British comic illustration, adult humour and magazine cartoon artwork.

Additional Editorial Features

The photographed contents page also confirms several recurring sections.

Forum – Page 4

Reader correspondence and discussion.

View from the Top – Page 11

A collection of editorial commentary, including:

• Running commentary by Jackie Collins.

• Music coverage by Mick Brown.

• Film coverage by Mike Bygrave.

• Book coverage by Tania Brasset.

• Sport coverage by William Rushton.

We Like Your Act But Don't Give Up Your Day Job – Page 70

Competition results from a reader-participation photographic competition.

Classified Advertisements – Page 99

Original period classified advertising.

These sections provide an additional snapshot of entertainment, publishing, consumer interests and popular culture in Britain during 1978.

Historical and Collector Interest

This issue is a particularly interesting example of late-1970s magazine publishing.

Its combination of photography, investigative journalism, celebrity profiles, reader competitions and illustrated humour reflects the editorial approach of the period.

The Oliver Reed article provides a contemporary look at one of Britain's most recognisable film personalities.

The Suzuki GT550 competition adds an unusual motoring connection, particularly for enthusiasts of classic Japanese motorcycles.

The magazine also includes work credited to several recognised writers, journalists and illustrators, including Jackie Collins, Wendy Perriam, Xaviera Hollander, Ron Embleton and Fred Mullally.

The original contents page identifies Bob Guccione as editor and publisher.

The magazine was published in the United Kingdom by Penthouse Publications Ltd., with publication details printed on the contents page.

The interior also includes original 1970s advertising, including a prominently photographed Rizla cigarette-paper advertisement beside the contents.

This material is part of the magazine's original historical advertising and publishing presentation.

Publication Details

Magazine: Penthouse

Edition: British / UK Edition

Publication Date: August 1978

Volume: 13

Issue Number: 5

Original Cover Price: 75p

Language: English

Format: Original printed magazine

Publisher: Penthouse Publications Ltd.

Editor and Publisher: Bob Guccione

Country: United Kingdom

SKU: 1600

Condition – Important Information

Pre-owned vintage condition with noticeable wear, particularly around the cover and spine.

This magazine dates from 1978 and shows signs of previous handling, reading and storage.

The photographs show the actual magazine being sold.

Front Cover Condition

The front cover remains present, with its original photograph, masthead and printed headlines clearly visible.

However, there are several noticeable imperfections.

These include:

• Significant rubbing and wear along the left-hand spine edge.

• Areas of colour loss and paper abrasion near the spine.

• Small splits and worn sections along the cover fold.

• Creasing around the upper-left corner.

• Wear along the top edge.

• Minor bending and softening of the corners.

• Surface scratches and handling marks.

• Small marks and spots visible on the cover.

• General rubbing across the printed surface.

• Light age-related discolouration.

• Some wear along the lower cover edge.

The left-hand edge shows particularly noticeable deterioration, with small areas where the printed cover surface has worn away.

The lower-left corner also shows rubbing and minor damage.

Despite these imperfections, the main cover image remains attractive and the printed details are readable.

Spine and Binding

The spine area displays noticeable age-related wear.

Visible issues include:

• Rubbing and paper loss along the cover fold.

• Small areas of splitting.

• Abrasion around the upper and lower spine.

• Creasing associated with previous opening.

• Wear around the staples and binding area.

The photographed interior pages remain attached and can be opened.

However, the entire magazine has not been checked page by page, so the condition of every internal page and the strength of the complete binding cannot be guaranteed.

Interior Page Condition

The photographed contents page remains generally legible and presentable.

Visible imperfections include:

• Light age-related yellowing.

• Some discolouration near the page edges.

• Minor corner wear.

• Slight waviness and handling creases.

• Wear near the inner binding.

• Small marks consistent with age and storage.

The printed text, page numbers and editorial information remain clearly readable.

The adjacent original advertisement retains its colour and printed detail.

No major tear is visible on the photographed contents page.

Overall Condition Assessment

Condition: Fair vintage condition.

This is an original magazine with noticeable age-related wear, especially along the spine and cover edges.

It should not be considered mint, near mint or pristine.

The most significant visible imperfections are the worn spine, small areas of paper loss, cover scuffing and general handling marks.

Completeness of all internal pages has not been independently verified.

Please examine all supplied photographs carefully, as they form an important part of the condition description.

Important – Original Accompanying Items

MAGAZINE ONLY.

Any original separate supplements, promotional gifts, calendars, competition forms, loose inserts or other items that may originally have accompanied this publication are no longer included.

The Suzuki GT550 motorcycle competition and other promotions advertised in the magazine are historical and no longer valid.

Only the original magazine shown in the photographs is included in this sale.

Packaging and Delivery

Your magazine will be carefully packaged to help protect it during transit.

UK Orders: Dispatched in a protective hardback envelope.

International Orders: Dispatched in a sturdy cardboard mail-size box for additional protection during international shipping.

Collector Interest

This original August 1978 issue may appeal to collectors interested in:

• Vintage Penthouse magazines.

• Original British magazine editions.

• Oliver Reed memorabilia.

• Classic British cinema.

• Vintage celebrity interviews and profiles.

• Suzuki GT550 motorcycles.

• Classic Japanese motorcycles.

• 1970s motorcycle advertising and competitions.

• Pet of the Year magazine features.

• Original 1970s editorial photography.

• British social history.

• Vintage investigative journalism.

• Jackie Collins.

• Wendy Perriam.

• Xaviera Hollander.

• Ron Embleton artwork.

• Fred Mullally cartoons.

• Vintage magazine illustration.

• Original 1970s advertising.

• British publishing history.

• 1970s popular culture.

Summary

An original Penthouse Magazine, August 1978, Volume 13 Number 5, featuring a distinctive 1970s photographic cover and a varied selection of contemporary editorial content.

Highlights include an Oliver Reed profile, a Suzuki GT550 motorcycle competition, the Pet of the Year playoff, investigative journalism, original photography, fiction and illustrated humour.

An interesting vintage publication for collectors of 1970s magazines, British popular culture and original period journalism.

Condition: Fair vintage condition with noticeable spine wear, cover rubbing, creasing and age-related imperfections.

Important: Magazine only. Any original separate accompanying items are no longer included.

UK Packaging: Protective hardback envelope.

International Packaging: Sturdy cardboard mail-size box.

SKU: 1600