The 21-27 May edition of the mag features a typical cover bearing naked women and strategically-placed graphics, but in 3D and with giant orange letters proclaiming: "3D Issue"; and a cover-mounted pair of 3D specs.

The magazine was printed by Polestar, at its Colchester-based web-offset site.

The 3D nature of the magazine is clearly meant to piggyback on the current plethora of 3D films on at cinemas - the most high profile being James Cameron's ‘Avatar'. But the technology used to produce the magazine itself is not as sophisticated as that used in Hollywood.

A spokeswoman for Polestar said that the printing process did not need to be changed to produce the special issue - the 3D imagery files were created by IPC and then sent to Polestar as a standard job.

In addition to the magazine's 3D cover, there are 30 pages of 3D content, including an article on video game ‘Rage' and an image of an F-16 fighter plane. Cover girls Lucy Pinder, Lindsey Strutt and Rosie Jones also appear in 3D.

Nuts' publishing director Jo Smalley said: "This distinct 3D offering is a real newsstand event - we wanted to excite readers, retailers and advertisers with an issue that showcases the very best of Nuts.

"With the phenomenal topicality of 3D, we're sure that imitations will follows, but we're thrilled to offer the first issue of its kind on our hotly contested market."

IPC is anticipating a circulation rise for the 3D edition and has consequently upped its print-run.

The 3D edition is being promoted via a marketing campaign that includes digital advertising on sites including NME.com and MTV.

Nuts is the top-selling magazine in the men's weekly market, but its average circulation in the six months to the end of 2009 saw it fall 6.2% period-on-period to 176,835, according to ABC data. IPC rival Bauer's Zoo magazine recorded a circulation of 102,043 for the period.