In a first to mark the 20th century’s midway point, Vogue opted for the simplicity of a black and white cover. Irving Penn — who had been shooting for Vogue since he moved from the art department at the US edition to focus on photography — shot model Jean Patchett in fashion by Larry Aldrich and a hat by Lilly Daché.

This is the finest condition copy of this issue I have ever come across, a credit its former keepers