Tennis Anyone? & Needlepoint Finds

Hugh Hefner Playboy Bunny Needlepoint Tennis Racket Cover

 

This needlepoint tennis racket cover was created by playboy bunny and girlfriend Barbi Benton for Hugh Hefner. It is marked “Tennis Anyone?/ HMH/ by Barbi.” It is circa 1970s. It sold at auction with a Spalding racket for $1,600.

Barbi Benton appeared on the cover of Playboy magazine four times between July of 1969 through December of 1985 in addition to two nude photo layouts in the December of 1973 and January of 1975 issues. When Hugh Hefner first asked Barbi out on a date, she reportedly demurred to the then 42 year old Hefner and said, “ I don’t know, I’ve never dated anyone over 24 before," to which Hefner replied, “That’s all right, neither have I.” She is credited with convincing Hugh Hefner to buy the Playboy Mansion in Holmby Hills in 1974.

High Hefner and Barbi Benton, circa 1972

I found these two needlepoint tennis racket covers circa 1970s on eBay a few days ago from two different eBay sellers - 

eBay

Check out the tail....

eBay

And this one too -

eBay

I will be displaying them in a wicker urn along with my own vintage rackets and vintage Louis Vuitton tennis racket cover.

They arrived yesterday and are in near mint condition. The light blue one is backed in black velvet and lined in powder blue felt - really beautiful.

CCC

Such fun eBay finds. Tennis anyone? (It's a high of eighty degrees here today and not a cloud in the sky).