New York / Toronto: Random House, Inc. / Random House Limited Canada, 1967
Warhol, Andy. The Index Book (Hardcover Pop-Up Book)
First edition, true first printing (stated). 4to (11 × 8.25 inches; 28 × 22 cm). Unpaginated [68 pp.]. Original holographic silver-lettered pictorial boards. Includes all ten mechanical and novelty items originally issued with the book (see condition note below). Complete, with publisher's original clear plastic outer bag and a separate 1967 advertisement for the book (authentic original, not a facsimile).
Provenance: This copy originates directly from Andy Warhol’s personal collection and was acquired through the Andy Warhol Foundation. It is accompanied by the original letter of purchase from the Foundation, confirming its provenance.
Condition: Mint. This unread copy was obtained directly from Warhol's estate via the Andy Warhol Foundation. Boards pristine, hologram front cover brilliantly preserved with its full sparkling 3D effect intact. Internally fine, the book has never been fully opened; protective transparent tissue interleaving remains in place, preserving the interactive elements. As typical of all true first printings, the balloon has disintegrated due to time and lightly adheres to adjacent pages, but all other original novelties are present and untouched. The original outer clear plastic bag is present and fully intact apart from a small tear to the back top edge. The included original 1967 Random House advertisement for The Index Book is in excellent condition.
An extraordinary example of Warhol's groundbreaking artist's book, widely considered the first pop-up and multimedia book by a major visual artist.
Collector’s Corner:
Andy Warhol's Index Book is an iconic fusion of Pop Art, interactive publishing, and 1960s counterculture. Conceived as an extension of the Factory ethos, the book includes photographs, pop-up sculptures, fold-outs, paper novelties, and sound elements, featuring appearances by Warhol superstars including Nico, Lou Reed, and others. Among the ten novelties are a pop-up castle, a red acetate disc, a paper accordion, a tear-out Hunts Tomato Paste ad, a fold-out nose, and a silver balloon (now typically deteriorated in all extant copies).
Please see our in-depth article on The History of Andy Warhol’s Index Book under the "Movable Books History" section on our website. It includes a rare photo of the elusive original balloon in pristine condition.
References: Bjurstrom 134; Parr & Badger The Photobook: A History Vol. 2, pp. 144–145; Castleman, A Century of Artists Books.