VINTAGE BRITISH EROTIC MAGAZINE –

Nicole Kidman Chucks a Prawn on the Barbie

Knave was a long-running British softcore pornographic magazine that was published monthly by Galaxy Publications Limited.^[1] Originally launched in 1968 by the photographer Russell Gay, it was the upmarket sister publication of Fiesta magazine.^[2] Mary Millington modelled for the magazine in 1974, prior to her exclusive signing to work for David Sullivan‘s magazines.^[2][3]

Along with many other adult magazines, Knave has published the works of popular authors, including Kim Newman, Dave Langford,^[4] and Neil Gaiman.^[5] The first issue featured a short story by Ellery Queen.^[6]

The surrealist artist Penny Slinger appeared in Knave in 1973 in a photoshoot and interview in which she posed nude with her own artwork.^[7][8] The artist and musician Cosey Fanni Tutti appeared as a Knave model in 1977, as part of an art project exploring pornography in which she appeared as a model in a number of pornographic magazines.^[9][10]

Neil Gaiman’s early short stories, including “We Can Get Them for You Wholesale“, were published within the magazine;^[11] he also worked at the magazine in many roles, including celebrity interviewer and book reviewer.^[12] Gaiman began work at the magazine in 1984 but left in the late 80s because an editorial change resulted in the magazine concentrating more heavily on pornographic content.^[12]

Eric Fuller, credited by The Guardian as “the man behind the success of Dennis Publishing‘s lad-mag, Maxim“, also worked for the magazine for a time.^[13]

Knave ceased production in 2015, after 47 years of publication.^[14]