SMF has added yet another near-century old magazine to our world class collection of lifestyle ephemera featuring surfing on the cover, with Hawaii as the backdrop. This August, 1936, issue of Physical Culture is in amazing condition for its age. It was discovered in Reinholds, Pennsylvania.
Physical Culture was published between the years of 1899 and 1955 as a lifestyle magazine that promoted health and fitness to the American public. Surfing only graced the cover of two issues during its 56 year run, both of which showcased women riding on wooden surfboards that were innate to their respective eras. The first was published in June, 2025, with cover art by Jay Weaver. The artwork on the cover of the second, which we have added to the SMH collection, was completed by John Newton Howitt, a noted illustrator and landscape painter from White Plains, New York. Howitt had no ties to the Hawaiian islands, but his renown in human illustrations and landscapes made him an ideal candidate to capture the attention of all who passed by newsstands with visions of surfing in the archipelago in the heads. There is no surfing related content within the complete issue, but the cover makes for an excellent exhibit piece.
SMH Appraisal Value: $125 USD
