Maurice Sendak's Hillbilly Wild Thing

I'm not surprised to learn that children's book illustrator Maurice Sendak commemorated his 1997 visit to the University of Charleston in West Virginia by publishing a signed, limited edition photolithograph, but I am a bit surprised he chose to call it "Hillbilly Wild Thing." Nevertheless, it's a strong image of a character from his most memorable book, and the regional hat looks handsome enough, if perhaps out of place.

Maurice Sendak
AbeBooks listing accessed January 1, 2022

https://www.abebooks.com/signed-first-edition/HILLBILLY-WILD-THING-Sendak-Maurice-Parchment/31065892116/bd?cm_ven=nl&cm_cat=trg&cm_pla=want_CM&cm_ite=viewbook

After the print edition was completed, the original drawing was colored by the artist. It was offered for sale at Heritage in 2003 with a $15,000 reserve. It went unsold.

Maurice Sendak
Heritage Auctions

https://comics.ha.com/itm/original-illustration-art/mainstream-illustration/maurice-bernard-sendak-original-illustration-1997-titled-hillbilly-wild-thingmaurice-sendak-is-considered-the/a/808-2376.s

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