Playboy pays 'nude' tribute to Marilyn Monroe on 50th death anniversary

London, November 19 (ANI): Playboy magazine has released a special edition, featuring a stunning collection of Marilyn Monroe's nude photos, to mark the 50th anniversary of the tragic starlet's death.

The magazine selected the rare shots of the iconic beauty from its exclusive archive of 10 million photos captured throughout her career.

"It's really all about the collection and the way its composed," the Daily Mail quoted Jimmy Jellinek, Playboy's editorial director, as saying.

"This is the first time we've shown the totality of our collection, from the beginning to almost days before the end of her life. It showcases the arc of her life," he said.

Apart from The Nude Marilyn, a carefully selected portfolio of photographs, Playboy's special package also features editorials by Roger Ebert and Kim Morgan, recollections from Playboy Publisher Hugh Hefner and an excerpt by novelist John Updike.

Playboy had a long relationship with Monroe. The very first issue of Playboy featured Monroe as the cover girl.

Playboy promises the December cover feature 'highlights the full spectrum of her beauty and power'.

The classic nude photos range from her first days as a pin-up girl to her final pictorials with the world's leading photographers. (ANI)