25 Cats Name Sam and One Blue Pussy

25 Cats Name Sam and One Blue Pussy (1954) By Andy Warhol This limited-edition artist's book contains 19 lithographs of cats, each hand-colored with watercolor by Warhol and his associates. The calligraphy was created by Warhol's mother Julia Warhola, who inadvertently dropped the "d" in "Named" - an error Warhol chose to keep. The original run consisted of 150-190 copies, which Warhol distributed to friends and family members. Facsimile editions were released in 1987 and 1988, packaged with Julia Warhola's companion piece "Holy Cats." The book stands as an early example of Warhol's signature blend of fine art and intentional imperfection, combining careful artistic technique with elements of chance and collaborative creation.

Readers note this book is a collection of Andy Warhol's cat illustrations created for his mother Julia Warhola in 1954. The hand-colored lithographs feature whimsical cats in various poses. Readers liked: - The playful, loose drawing style - Julia Warhola's distinctive calligraphy for the text - The story behind why Warhol made it (as a gift for his cat-loving mother) - The historical value as an early Warhol work Readers disliked: - The book's rarity and high cost ($500+ for original copies) - Limited availability of reprints - Confusion over the unusual title (all cats being named Sam) Ratings: Goodreads: 4.25/5 (17 ratings) AbeBooks reader reviews: 4/5 (3 reviews) Many reviewers comment this is more of a collector's art piece than a traditional book. One Goodreads reviewer noted: "A charming insight into Warhol's early commercial work and his relationship with his mother."

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🎨 Julia Warhola, Andy's mother, learned English as a second language and her unique misspellings became an integral artistic element of the book, adding unexpected charm to the final work. 🐱 Despite the title suggesting 26 cats, the book actually contains only 19 lithographs, making the numerical discrepancy part of its whimsical nature. ✍️ The original prints were created during intimate "coloring parties" where Warhol and his friends would gather to hand-color the lithographs, making each copy unique. 📚 Before his fame as a Pop Art icon, this book was one of Warhol's earliest published works, created during his career as a commercial illustrator in the 1950s. 🎨 The Sam referenced in the title was Warhol's actual pet cat, who lived with him and his mother in their New York apartment, serving as both companion and artistic muse.