Damn the Good Doktor: Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S. Thompson and Ralph Steadman

A first edition copy of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream (1971) by Hunter S. Thompson is signed by the book's illustrator, Ralph Steadman. He includes a striking color drawing of Thompson, his friend and collaborator, about whom he writes, "Damn the Good Doktor." Thompson never earned a genuine doctorate but he appropriated the title anyway.

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
AbeBooks listing accessed February 2, 2025

https://www.abebooks.com/signed-first-edition/FEAR-LOATHING-VEGAS-HUNTER-THOMPSON-Random/32116644651/bd#&gid=1&pid=5

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
AbeBooks item description

 

04868

Joe Petro III's Advance Proof Copy of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S. Thompson

Joe Petro III obtained an advance proof copy of Hunter S. Thompson's Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1971) from bookseller Ken Lopez of Hadley, Massachusetts. He had it signed by illustrator Ralph Steadman (and by Thompson) in the kitchen at Owl Farm in 2004. Joe writes "This was the last time Ralph and I saw Hunter alive."

Note:  Original drawings by Ralph Steadman are a thing here at Attempted Bloggery. Your scans are welcome.

03550

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 Signed by Terry Gilliam and Ralph Steadman

On November 6, 1998 the Fashion Institute of Technology hosted Terry Gilliam and Ralph Steadman in converstion. Illustrator Stephen Kroninger attended the event and came away with a good memory and a copy of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas signed by both men. He recalls:

Both Steadman and Gilliam were pretty lit at this event. I thought they were great that night but there was a lot of grumbling in the crowd. The audience was expecting them to present career retrospectives but it turned out to be more of a casual conversation between two friends. Gilliam brought laser discs of his films and Steadman had slides. They decided from the beginning that they didn't want to do that sort of a presentation so Gilliam showed "Time Bandits" while Steadman projected his slides over the film on the same screen.

The highlight of the evening was Steadman getting down on his knees and doing an impression of Hunter Thompson as a kid forced to attend one of his parent's cocktail parties. At least that's my memory of it.

Mr. Gilliam signed illegibly and added a drawing of a pencil. Mr. Steadman signed on the title page.

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

Inscribed "To Stephen—Terry Gilliam" with a drawing of a pencil

Inscribed "For Stephen/Ralph Steadman"

The Graphic Arts Weekend
Terry Gilliam & Ralph Steadman
The Fashion Institute of Technology
November 6, 1998

Note:  You've heard me say that "A Retrospective:  Ralph Steadman" is on view in New York at the Society of Illustrators. You've heard me remind you that it's here only through October 22. You've heard me say don't miss it. Well, I'm not going to repeat myself.

Many thanks to Stephen Kroninger for sharing his unique book and experience. See Mr. Kroninger's illustration art at stephenkroninger.com. See some photocollages from his MoMA exhibit. By the way, how many of my contributors do you suppose have had MoMA exhibits? Hint: You can count them on one finger.

If you have a unique signed book or original sketch by Ralph Steadman or Terry Gilliam, there's at least one blogger that would like to publicize it. You know what to do.


Attempted Bloggery's quick links:

Ralph Steadman

Hunter S. Thompson

Monty Python

Stephen Kroninger

Attempted Bloggery's unconventional index

01984

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