Iconic photos from the Playboy Legacy Collection, personally selected by Hugh Hefner

The pages of Playboy magazine have always been graced by exceptionally spectacular girls who rightfully deserve to be called sex symbols. But the founder and permanent owner of the men's magazine, Hugh Hefner, knew a thing or two about good erotic photographs and chose the best of the best for his Playboy Legacy Collection. (Caution! Nudity).

All the photos in Hefner's collection were included for their significant place in history. They feature such iconic models as Pamela Anderson, Stephanie Seymour, Ursula Andress, Dita Von Teese, Bettie Page and others. The photos are good not only because of the models - they are also technically impeccable.

In 2007, the Playboy Legacy Collection was published as a book. Each photo was accompanied by a story about how it was created. The value of the book is that some of the photos had never been published before and their existence was known only to the model, photographer, and a very small circle of people close to Hugh Hefner.

The real gems of the collection are the early photos of Marilyn Monroe. They were taken in 1949 by photographer Tom Kelly, and the sex symbol of the 20th century does not yet resemble the image we are accustomed to, replicated by pop culture. Hefner bought these unique shots, taken before the advent of Playboy, from the photographer for $50. They graced the first issue of the magazine.

The Playboy Legacy Collection is not just a collection of photographs, but an entire era in the world of erotic art and glamour. These pictures became symbols of their time, and some of them still cause admiration and discussion. What modern models or photographs do you think could be included in such a collection today? Share your opinion in the comments!