The first exhibition of rare prints published in the American magazine Vanity Fair has gone on show at the National Portrait Gallery in London.

Some of the most famous portrait photographs of the 20th century were taken for, or published in, Vanity Fair and the exhibition unveils a selection of 150 images from the magazine's first period (1913–1936).

Portrait subjects from the period include Albert Einstein, Charlie Chaplin and Jean Harlow and are accompanied by images taken following the magazine's re-launch in 1983 – including works by modern photographers Annie Leibovitz, Helmut Newton and Bruce Weber.

Sandy Nairne, director of the National Portrait Gallery says: 'Vanity Fair Portraits offers the perfect combination of great subjects and great photographers: an essential who's who of the past hundred years.'

The exhibition will run until 26 May.