An original proof copy of David Bailey’s iconic 1965 Box of Pin-Ups has been discovered for the first time, offering a unique glimpse into the making of a defining portrait of the swinging Sixties. The near-mint condition preprint features 36 portraits of stars including John Lennon, Mick Jagger, Michael Caine and David Hockney.
The proof was the personal working copy of David Hillman, the influential graphic designer who co-conceived the project with editor and political cartoonist Mark Boxer. It was the finished concept presented to Bailey for final approval before printing. Its existence was unknown until now, having remained in Hillman’s private collection.
In a signed letter confirming its authenticity, Hillman wrote: “Mark, a friend of David Bailey’s, came up with the idea for a box of pin-ups – an idea Bailey was enthusiastic about. Bailey selected the photographs, and Mark tasked me with designing and managing the project under his direction.”
The edition, a loose portfolio within a box, was published by Weidenfeld & Nicolson. Plans for a second edition were dropped after Lord Snowdon objected to the inclusion of the Kray twins, the notorious gangsters. The controversy also reportedly cancelled a US edition. The first edition is highly sought-after, with copies selling for about £20,000; one signed by Bailey far exceeded that.
This unique proof is priced at £25,000 and is being offered for sale by Bayliss Rare Books in London on the 60th anniversary of its publication. Oliver Bayliss, its founding director, said: “Box of Pin-Ups is one of the most iconic photography collections of the 20th century, but until now no one knew this original proof existed. It is the prototype – the moment Bailey’s concept became a finished object.”
