Circulating

US magazine, perennial poor little sister to Time Inc.’s People, is reporting a 40% rise in newsstand sales since July--which is, not uncoincidentally, when owner Jann Wenner hired Brit-born editor Anthea Disney. A former Fleet Streeter, she’s being credited with punching up US with splashier photos, new departments and sassier stories.

Disney’s also picked some pretty hot covers: The first one was Elvis (Aug. 24), US’ second-best-selling cover ever. Her “Ten Sexiest” cover (Oct. 19) and Madonna (Sept. 7) are Nos. 3 and 4 best, respectively (No. 1 is July 13’s pre-Disney 10th anniversary double issue). Her last four cover choices--Bruce Willis (sporting a halo), Lady Di, Farrah Fawcett and the current Tom Selleck--leave little doubt that she would have nixed Alan Alda, whose May, 1986, cover reigns as the all-time worst-seller.

Circulation is 1.1 million (up from 900,000 in 1985). People’s still far ahead, with 2.95 million.