Bettie Page Rules! Paperback – October 16, 2007

Absolutely recommend this wonderful work to anyone interested in the beautiful Bettie Page as well as the pin-ups and models of her era. Many great photographs of some many beautiful women. The key to understanding this work is its sub-title: "The Pin-Up Battles of the Classic Beauties and Bombshells of the 1950s in Over 300 Rare Photographs & Original Artwork". Thus, this is NOT really a work dedicated to Bettie Page. Rather it is a work that attempts to put her work in relation to some of the other famous pin-up and other models of that era.The work runs 128 pages. The paperback is 9 inches wide by 12 inches tall.Of the 128 page, approximately 31 are "original artwork", rather than photographs. Pages 118-128 are entire artwork, in the final section titled "Dream Bettie". Other original artwork of Bettie (pgs. 1, 7, 11, 15, 37, 101, 104, 108) and other models (pgs. 23, 30, 35, 67, 73, 79, 87, 90, 93, 97, 111, and 115) is found throughout the work. Thus a bit under 1/4th of the work is original artwork, not photographs.Full page photographs of Bettie Page naked are found on pages: 2, 4, 36, 38 (color), 40, 42, 43, 44 (color), 50, 54, 64, 100 (color), 106, and 109 (color). Full page photos of Bettie Page in non-nude bondage are on pages 102 (color) and 105 (color). It does appear that some of the "color" photographs have been "colorized" (e.g., p. 105, but I'm no expert in these things).Full page photographs of Diane Webber naked are found on pages 46 and 92. A full page nude Sophia Loren with her hands covering her breasts is on p. 86, with the famous picture of her topless on p. 27 (1/3rd page).Here is the Table of Contents, on p. 5:- Why? Why? Why?, p. 7- Corny or Classy, p. 11- Naked & Unashamed, p. 23- Bettie Fights Back, p. 37- Pin-Up Wars, p. 47- The Strippers, p. 67- Gina [Lollobrigida], p. 73- Brigitte [Bardot], p. 79- Sophia [Loren], p. 87- Diane [Webber], p. 93- Kim [Novak], p. 97- Bad Bad Bettie Page, p. 101- Marilyn [Monroe], p. 111- Dream Bettie, p. 119Some giants of the era--Jayne Mansfield, Julie Newmar, Mamie van Doren, and Ursula Andress--are shown in the Chapter titled "Pin-Up Wars".There is nudity, esp. of Bettie, including some smaller photographs showing pubic hair. The one full-page nude photo of Ms Page showing pubic hair is on p. 44

Artwork was GREAT. Any Bettie Page fan would love this even though other models are highlighted the majority is BP.

The book was great!!! The spine had a few tears at the bottom, but other than that, I loved this product =]

I like bettie page..

Really great book. All the pictures are great. Thanks.

Outside of perhaps only Marilyn Monroe, no female has been the subject of more mystery and more obsession than Bettie Page. Page's career last only about seven years from 1950 to 1957. During that time Page worked as a model in everything from traditional pin-ups to fully nudes to bondage and fetish motifs. Page was also the Playboy Playmate of the Month in January, 1955. Page abruptly left the business in 1957, citing a conversion to Christianity although that has been disputed by many. What isn't disputed is the indelible impression she's made on the males of the species for over fifty years, continuing to enjoy incredible popularity. If you need further proof, there is this great new release from Dark Horse Books. This book contains over 300 very rare photos and pieces of art not only of Bettie, but other notable pin-up queens of the 50's and 60's such as Sophia Loren, Jayne Mansfield, Mamie Van Doren, Ursula Andress, Brigitte Bardot, and many others.Many of the Bettie photos were taken by amateur photographers and are being seen for the very first time. These include both black and white and full color photos, numerous nude shots, and bondage/fetish photos. This is exhibit A as to why Bettie was and remains so popular. Despite many of the photos being taken by amateurs, they never come off as seedy. This is in large part due to the fact that Bettie had that inexplicable next door girl look and always seemed to have a smile on her face no matter what the pose. The published photos come from such long-forgotten men's magazines as Eyeful, Tid Bits, Wink, and Titter. The other interesting thing about Bettie's photos is their relative innocence. Again, with many being produced by amateurs they were taken not in studios with sets but rather in everyday homes or apartments and it gives them truly a personal touch.The book covers the very early period of nudes in magazine and in film including very rare photos from foreign films of the 40's and 50's. There's a spectacular shot of a topless Sophia Loren from the 1953 Italian film "Two Nights with Cleopatra." The 50's saw an explosion in men's magazines, which are detailed in the chapter called Pin-up Wars. There were literally scores of men's magazines, both domestic and foreign, flooding the marketplace and a competition of sorts began between American and European pin-up models. Dozens of cover's are reprinted and it brings home just how voracious this battle became. There are chapters devoted to the most famous sex symbols: Marilyn Monroe, Sophia Loren, Bardot, Gina Lollobrigida, and Kim Novak which feature shots from both film and photo sessions. Finally, the book concludes with the photos that would earn Bettie the notorious label...her bondage and fetish shots, again many being seen for the first time in any collection.This is an exquisite collection not only for Bettie Page fans, but also for any fan of 50's and 60's pin-ups. The photography is brilliant and artfully reproduced by Dark Horse.REVIEWED BY TIM JANSON

A lot of great photos, some information, the quality of of some of the photos are grainy and and I have seen in other publications but overall happy with the book, one big disappoint ment was supposed to be hardcover and received paperback issue...... ?