Vente: 425 / Post War / Contemporary Art 12/13. juin 2015 à Munich Lot 871

 

871
Andy Warhol
25 Cats name[d] Sam and one Blue Pussy, 1954.
Offset lithograph
Estimation:
€ 80,000 / $ 86,400
Résultat:
€ 168,750 / $ 182,250

( frais d'adjudication compris)
25 Cats name[d] Sam and one Blue Pussy. 1954.
18 water colored Offset lithographs.
Feldman/Schellmann/Defendi IV.52B-68B. Signed in the colophon and with handwritten numbering. With handwritten dedication on the title page. One of 190 copies of an edition that wasn't entirely printed. On laid paper. Each ca. 22.6 x 15 cm (8.8 x 5.9 in), size of sheet.
Printed by Seymour Berlin, 1954. Formerly released as a bound book. Complete, separately framed. [CB].

PROVENANCE: Gotham Book Mart & Gallery, New York (1975).
Private collection New York (since 1975).

"25 Cats name[d] Sam and one Blue Pussy" is Andy Warhol’s first artist book. It was made around 1954 in cooperation with Seymour Berlin, who had produced the earlier unbound portfolio "25 Cats". Oh the intended 190 copies only ca.150 were produced. The book’s title goes back to Charles Lisenby, who is mentioned as author. However, the book does not contain any text, just the full-page lithographs in colors showing illustrations of cats that were colored in watercolors by hand. The calligraphic execution of the title was made by Warhol‘s mother Julia Warhola. Warhol kept the typos for he was a great friend of everything coincidental and spontaneous, which is why he made the imperfect part of his work. Julia Warhola moved in with her son in New York after her husband’s death in the 1950s. Warhol used her neat writing for several works. She was also a passionate drawer, her illustrations of cats were published by Warhol under the title "Holy Cats by Andy Warhol's Mother" (1957). Warhol and his mother had many cats, almost all of them were named Sam. At times they gave away kittens as presents for friends. The small book“25 Cats calle[d] Sam and one Blue Pussy" was also a present, most of them came with a personal dedication for friends or clients on the title.



871
Andy Warhol
25 Cats name[d] Sam and one Blue Pussy, 1954.
Offset lithograph
Estimation:
€ 80,000 / $ 86,400
Résultat:
€ 168,750 / $ 182,250

( frais d'adjudication compris)