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

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Joe Petro III's Copy of Hell's Angels by Hunter S. Thompson

Joe Petro III describes how he obtained his striking copy of the British hardback edition of Hell's Angels (1967) by Hunter S. Thompson, signed and embossed with the blind stamp of the author and generously embellished by Ralph Steadman (who, of course, worked extensively with Thompson but did not illustrate this book). The Gonzo emblem is by Thomas W. Benton. Joe writes:

The copy below Hunter signed for me in his kitchen while Ralph and I were visiting him at Owl Farm; that's where Ralph also did the drawing of Hunter for me. Hunter signed the book in red marker, stamped it, and then squeezed his embosser in to the page to top it off. I have been friends and a printmaker with Ralph and Hunter for over 20 years. 

Bad Craziness
"On behalf of the good doktor"
Ralph Steadman

Note:  I hope readers will feel free to use this blog to show off their own outstanding books signed by Ralph Steadman, Hunter S. Thompson, or their ilk, not that they have any ilk.

 

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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

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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

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