A Presidential Copy of Fear and Loathing: On the Campaign Trail '72 by Dr. Hunter S. Thompson

Raptis Rare Books of Palm Beach offers a thrice-signed copy of Fear and Loathing: On the Campaign Trail '72, by Dr. Hunter S. Thompson with illustrations by Ralph Steadman (who knows better than to call himself "doctor"). Author and illustrator have signed the title page. The page opposite is signed by Jimmy Carter. One assumes that the president's signature was obtained at a later date than the other two. 

Readers should feel free to guess the asking price before scrolling down. Hint: shipping is free. 

By the way, that striking cover and title illustration is not by Steadman but by poster artist Thomas W. Benton. It's a harrowing comment on America's involvement in the Vietnam War. Thompson's coverage of the 1972 Nixon vs. McGovern campaign was published in installments in Rolling Stone and collected in book form the following year. 

Hunter S. Thompson and Ralph Steadman
AbeBooks listing accessed July 3, 2025

https://www.abebooks.com/signed-first-edition/Fear-Loathing-Campaign-Trail-72-Thompson/32233892591/bd?cm_ven=nl&cm_cat=trg&cm_pla=want_CM&ref_=pe_aep_AEP_wants_buyer-wants&cm_ite=viewbook

Hunter S. Thompson and Ralph Steadman
AbeBooks item description

04998

Gonzo Collecting

Today a private collector is sharing with us part of a remarkable collection of original Ralph Steadman art and Hunter S. Thompson memorabilia. It must have been exceedingly challenging to assemble all this first-rate gonzo material.

Scarecrow Executive is the Jackalope's first acquisition of original illustration art by Mr. Steadman. It is a masterly evocation of futility and desolation in the corporate world.

Ralph Steadman, Scarecrow Executive

Highlights of the Jackalope's collection include several pieces of original Steadman artwork purchased from the Rolling Stone archives that provided iconic illustrations to Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.

Detail

Ralph Steadman's limited edition print of Hunter S. Thompson has been shot through and through by Thompson, Steadman, and writer William S. Burroughs. It is dated May 6, 1995 and is signed by all three. To my knowledge, Ralph Steadman's gunplay has never resulted in any fatalities. I'll just leave it at that.

Ralph Steadman, Hunter S. Thompson, Limited edition 4/5, with gunshot holes
Signed by William S. Burroughs, Hunter S. Thompson, and Ralph Steadman, Woody Creek, 6 May 1995

A print of Vintage Dr. Gonzo also has been shot through.

Ralph Steadman, Vintage Dr. Gonzo print blasted with a shotgun
Signed by William S. Burroughs, Hunter S. Thompson, and Ralph Steadman

This collection packs some firepower:

Gun from the collection of Hunter S. Thompson, a .357 Colt Python in a contemporary display box

In 1970, Hunter Thompson ran for sheriff of Pitkin County. His campaign posters were designed by Thomas W. Benton. Thompson did not win the election.

Thomas W. Benton, Patriots Arise, 1970

Thomas W. Benton, Thompson for Sheriff, 1970

This 1995 poster protests the expansion of the Pitkin County airport:

Thomas W. Benton, There is some shit we won't eat
Woody Creek Caucus 1995
Signed and annotated "No" by Hunter S. Thompson

Note:  Thanks to the Jackalope for sharing these amazing pieces. See more of the Jackalope's stunning collection on Instagram.

Surely Ralph Steadman's Scarecrow Executive must have been published, but where? If you know, send word.

The reason I've spent so much time asking for pictures of signed books with drawings by Ralph Steadman is I didn't believe there was much original published art out there in private hands. Now that I've seen all this amazing art in one collection, naturally I'd love to be able to share even more with my discerning readers. So, if you've got original Steadman art hanging in your dining room horrifying your dinner guests, why not send a picture or two this way.

By now everyone knows that "A Retrospective:  Ralph Steadman" is showing at the Society of Illustrators in Manhattan, so I'm not going to mention it.


Attempted Bloggery's quick links:

Ralph Steadman

Hunter S. Thompson

Thomas W. Benton

Rolling Stone

Hillary Clinton

Donald Trump

Original Illustration Art

The Society of Illustrators

Attempted Bloggery's Trigger-Happy Index

01991

Fear and Loathing: On the Campaign Trail '72 Signed by Ralph Steadman

Hunter S. Thompson's uniquely incisive coverage of the 1972 Presidential election (Nixon vs. McGovern) was published in installments in Rolling Stone in 1972 and collected in book form in 1973. It is illustrated by the formidable Ralph Steadman. The artist has signed a copy to Stephen Parr and taken Thomas W. Benton's Vietnam War-era image of the helmeted American GI skull whose eyeglasses reflect a rising swastika—nothing tame here—and amended it by adding a rudimentary pair of horns. While this barely qualifies as a drawing, it does manage to make the book's central image look even more sinister.

Hunter S. Thompson, Fear and Loathing:  On the Campaign Trail '72, 1973

Inscribed at a signing in 2006 with a drawing of horns on the Benton skull "For Stephen Parr~/Ralph Steadman"

Note:  "A Retrospective:  Ralph Steadman" is now on view at the Society of Illustrators. It will remain in New York through October 22 only. Don't miss it.

I'm always on the lookout for original art by Ralph Steadman that escaped the clutches of the artist, or for original scribblings and spatterings in books, letters, and such. If you've got something to share with the world here on the old blog, please don't treat me with fear and loathing.


Attempted Bloggery's quick links:

Ralph Steadman

Hunter S. Thompson

Rolling Stone

Signed Books with Drawings

Attempted Bloggery's fearful and loathsome index

01964

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas Signed by Ralph Steadman

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas:  A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream is the signature work from the collaboration of gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson and illustrator Ralph Steadman. The work was published in 1971 by Rolling Stone in two installments and then in 1972 in book form. Steadman did not accompany Thompson on his travels this time, but the illustrations he conceived and executed in London somehow perfectly capture the caustic spirit of Thompson's prose.

Hunter S. Thompson, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas:  A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream, 1972

Inscribed with a drawing of a face "For Stephen Parr from Ralph Steadman 2006"

Note:  "A Retrospective:  Ralph Steadman" is now showing at the Society of Illustrators.
It will be on view through October 22 and is well worth your time.

Do you have any original Ralph Steadman art to show off? Perhaps just a drawing in a book, like the one above? If only there were some blog that would take your scans or photos and present them to a worldwide audience of appreciative viewers. If only... but wait! There is!


Attempted Bloggery's quick links:

Ralph Steadman

Hunter S. Thompson

Rolling Stone

Signed Books with Drawings

Attempted Bloggery's savage index

01963

Maurice Sendak: Some Swell Tree!

Illustrator Maurice Sendak created a painting of a Wild Thing decorated as a Christmas tree for the cover of the December 30, 1976 issue of Rolling Stone. Four years later, The Art of Maurice Sendak was published and the Rolling Stone design was reworked into a poster promoting the book with new text in the word balloons. "Some swell tree!" became "Some swell book!" A signed and inscribed copy of the beautiful poster was sold in October on eBay for a best offer somewhere under $350.

Maurice Sendak, Rolling Stone, December 30, 1976

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dec30-1976-ROLLING-STONE-Magazine-229-MAURICE-SENDAK-10-pge-story-ILLUSTRATED-/121126432851?pt=Magazines&hash=item1c33b2b053

Maurice Sendak, The Art of Maurice Sendak poster, Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 1980
Inscribed "To Freddie--/Maurice Sendak/1980"

http://www.ebay.com/itm/RARE-Maurice-Sendak-Book-Poster-The-Art-of-Maurice-Sendak-/271291278656?pt=Antiquarian_Collectible&hash=item3f2a386540&nma=true&si=UB68sj2DvLx%252F9kdb54zXrlCgzYs%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

Maurice Sendak, The Art of Maurice Sendak poster detail, Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 1980
Inscribed "To Freddie--/Maurice Sendak/1980"

http://www.ebay.com/itm/RARE-Maurice-Sendak-Book-Poster-The-Art-of-Maurice-Sendak-/271291278656?pt=Antiquarian_Collectible&hash=item3f2a386540&nma=true&si=UB68sj2DvLx%252F9kdb54zXrlCgzYs%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

http://www.ebay.com/itm/RARE-Maurice-Sendak-Book-Poster-The-Art-of-Maurice-Sendak-/271291278656?pt=Antiquarian_Collectible&hash=item3f2a386540&nma=true&si=UB68sj2DvLx%252F9kdb54zXrlCgzYs%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

Maurice Sendak, The Art of Maurice Sendak poster, Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 1980
Inscribed "To Freddie--/Maurice Sendak/1980"

http://www.ebay.com/itm/RARE-Maurice-Sendak-Book-Poster-The-Art-of-Maurice-Sendak-/271291278656?pt=Antiquarian_Collectible&hash=item3f2a386540&nma=true&si=UB68sj2DvLx%252F9kdb54zXrlCgzYs%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

Maurice Sendak, Rolling Stone, December 30, 1976

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dec30-1976-ROLLING-STONE-Magazine-229-MAURICE-SENDAK-10-pge-story-ILLUSTRATED-/121126432851?pt=Magazines&hash=item1c33b2b053

Maurice Sendak, [The Wild Rumpus,] "Maurice Sendak, King of All Wild Things," article by Jonathan Cott, Rolling Stone, December 30, 1976

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ROLLING-STONE-MAURICE-SENDAK-KING-OF-WILD-THINGS-Feature-Cover-Art-1976-FN-/161168255223?pt=Magazines&hash=item25866068f7

"Maurice Sendak, King of All Wild Things," article by Jonathan Cott, Rolling Stone, December 30, 1976

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dec30-1976-ROLLING-STONE-Magazine-229-MAURICE-SENDAK-10-pge-story-ILLUSTRATED-/121126432851?pt=Magazines&hash=item1c33b2b053

"Maurice Sendak, King of All Wild Things," article by Jonathan Cott, Rolling Stone, December 30, 1976

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ROLLING-STONE-MAURICE-SENDAK-KING-OF-WILD-THINGS-Feature-Cover-Art-1976-FN-/161168255223?pt=Magazines&hash=item25866068f7

Maurice Sendak, Fantasy Sketch, "Maurice Sendak, King of All Wild Things," article by Jonathan Cott, Rolling Stone, December 30, 1976

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dec30-1976-ROLLING-STONE-Magazine-229-MAURICE-SENDAK-10-pge-story-ILLUSTRATED-/121126432851?pt=Magazines&hash=item1c33b2b053

"Maurice Sendak, King of All Wild Things," article by Jonathan Cott, Rolling Stone, December 30, 1976

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ROLLING-STONE-MAURICE-SENDAK-KING-OF-WILD-THINGS-Feature-Cover-Art-1976-FN-/161168255223?pt=Magazines&hash=item25866068f7

"Maurice Sendak, King of All Wild Things," article by Jonathan Cott, Rolling Stone, December 30, 1976

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ROLLING-STONE-MAURICE-SENDAK-KING-OF-WILD-THINGS-Feature-Cover-Art-1976-FN-/161168255223?pt=Magazines&hash=item25866068f7

"Maurice Sendak, King of All Wild Things," article by Jonathan Cott, Rolling Stone, December 30, 1976

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ROLLING-STONE-MAURICE-SENDAK-KING-OF-WILD-THINGS-Feature-Cover-Art-1976-FN-/161168255223?pt=Magazines&hash=item25866068f7

Note:  More blog posts featuring the art of Maurice Sendak including some Wild Things are here.

The Rosenbach Museum and Library houses the extraordinary Maurice Sendak Collection.

'Tis the season for more Christmas posts from the archives of Attempted Bloggery. See them here.

0986