Rare 1978 The Razor’s Edge No. 7 – Grace Jones, Helen Sanger – Underground Bald Women Magazine.
Scarce original The Razor’s Edge, Number 7, an unusual late-1970s underground publication devoted to women with shaved heads, head shaving and what its publishers termed “recreational haircutting.”
Published by Howard Zimmetbaum in Palisades, New York, The Razor’s Edge was a genuinely small-circulation publication. A 1978 Washington Post article reported that the magazine had approximately 1,300 readers, while later documentation indicates that only 12 issues were ultimately published.
This complete Number 7 is particularly interesting because it documents several people and cultural threads that extend well beyond the magazine's original niche audience.
The cover features Helen Sanger, whose haircut became an ongoing story in the magazine. Issue #5 asked readers whether Helen should shave her head; Number 6 reported a remarkable 157-to-12 vote in favor, and this issue follows the story with photographs and coverage of Helen's resulting haircut.
Perhaps most significant today is the issue's contemporary coverage of Grace Jones.
The magazine's Audio Corner reviews Jones' debut album Portfolio and discusses her shaved-head appearance. Released in 1977, Portfolio was Jones' first album and belongs to her earliest disco period, before the extraordinary international fame and visual influence she achieved during the 1980s.
That makes this more than simply a vintage fetish publication—it is an unusual piece of early Grace Jones ephemera, documenting contemporary reaction to the shaved-head aesthetic that became an important part of her public identity.
Other contents include Pasha, the feature “Bashful Beth – Bald Under Her Bandana,” reader letters, original fiction and artwork, specialized advertisements and classifieds, and additional photography and commentary surrounding women who chose to shave their heads.
The back cover contains the magazine's own subscription advertisement and a photograph identified as Yvette Mimieux in Joy in the Morning.
Publication: The Razor’s Edge
Issue: Number 7
Publisher: Howard Zimmetbaum
Location: Palisades, New York
Cover: Helen Sanger
Original Price: $3.00
Era: Late 1970s
Condition: CompleteOriginal vintage condition with age toning, scattered foxing/spotting, edge and handling wear and other minor signs of age. Binding remains intact. Please review photographs carefully for exact condition.
A very difficult publication to find today, with crossover interest for collectors of Grace Jones memorabilia, 1970s counterculture, underground magazines and zines, alternative fashion, fetish history and unusual American ephemera.
