Several weeks ago, we noted that Vanity Fair's newsstand sales were down 22% and we were on the verge of speculating (recklessly, per usual) about which issues did the worst. Today, Drudge reveals:

VANITY FAIR editor Graydon blames the cover models for his magazine's flagging newsstand sales in a recent interview.

The drop, he said, was the result of three covers in a row featuring men at the end of 2004 -- Jude Law in October, Johnny Depp in November and Leonardo DiCaprio in December.

Here are the actual numbers, per publisher's statement for the last half of the year:

(Month, subscription, single copy sales, total paid)
July - 780,275 - 390,204 - 1,170,479
Aug. - 781,223 - 310,694 - 1,091,917
Sept. - 781,757 - 391,721 - 1,173,478
Oct. - 778,158 - 287,064 - 1,065,222
Nov. - 781,501 - 325,677 - 1,107,178
Dec. - 794,695 - 310,114 - 1,104,809

The moral of the story: placeth thou always women on the cover, lest Jude Law killeth thine magazine.

Related: But the Hollywood Issue sold well! [FishbowlNY]