FIRST EDITION OF HOLY CATS BY ANDY WARHOL'S MOTHER, 1957, INSCRIBED BY ANDY WARHOL AS "ANDY WARHOL'S MOTHER'S SON" WITH THE PHONE NUMBERS FOR WARHOL'S TWO STUDIOS

(WARHOL, Andy) WARHOLA, Julia. Holy Cats by Andy Warhol's Mother. No place: No publisher, [1957]. Slim octavo, original pictorial cream paper boards; ll. 20. Housed in a custom chemise and clamshell box. $16,500.

First edition of Warhol's self-published collaboration with his mother, Julia Warhola, featuring 21 offset lithographs of Warhola's drawings and calligraphy about cats and angels, warmly inscribed by Andy Warhol with the phone numbers of his studios: "To Rose [sketch of a heart] Andy Warhol's Mother [sic] Son. AT92198 Before 2, after 2 EL59941."

This is a collaboration between Andy Warhol and his mother, Julia Warhola. Warhola was an avid sketcher and calligrapher. Each of the multicolored leaves of this book is printed on the recto only with one of Warhola's charming sketches of cats and, often, angels. The title page and front board also feature lithographs after Warhola's drawings. "Julia (Andy's mother) moved to New York City in 1952 to be with Andy. She continued her singing and drawing through the Fifties and Sixties. Andy admired her abilities and used her penmanship often. Her decorative handwriting would often accompany his illustrations. She won awards for her lettering. In 1957 she illustrated a small book called Holy Cats. It featured what she loved to draw most, angels and cats" (The Andy Warhol Family Album). The inscription in this copy, from Andy Warhol to "Rose," features an original sketch of a heart, as well as phone numbers for Warhol's two studios: 1642 Lexington Avenue and the iconic Factory (known for its mix of celebrities, oddballs, drugs, and—even—art and film production).

Interior with just a few minor finger smudges, toning and slightest soiling to boards, spine expertly repaired. An extremely good inscribed copy.