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

Charles Addams: Ski Bump

Among those New Yorker artists whose work is prized by collectors, few generate the consistent excitement that Charles Addams does. His 1949 cartoon of a skier unexpectedly coming upon a mound in the snow demonstrates Addams's mastery of technique. His linework and his brushwork are superb. You can almost feel the spray of the snow and the stitching on the sweater. It's an extraordinary piece. And it's funny too, highlighting Addams's delightfully macabre sense of humor.

Charles Addams
Original art
The New Yorker, January 15, 1949, p. 32

The original cartoon went on the auction block yesterday at Heritage Auctions. The action in the salesroom was probably not as frenzied as it would be for one of his Addams Family drawings—or for his more famous ski cartoon—but the bidding certainly did not disappoint. A hammer price of $19,000 is more than respectable for a seventy-five year old New Yorker cartoon.

Charles Addams
Framed original art
The New Yorker, January 15, 1949, p. 32

An undated invoice from Graphics International, Ltd.

Charles Addams
Heritage Auctions sale of April 23, 2024

https://fineart.ha.com/itm/paintings/charles-addams-american-1912-1988-skier-the-new-yorker-magazine-cartoon-january-15-1949ink-wash-on/a/8161-71083.s?ic2=mytracked-lotspage-lotlinks-12202013&tab=MyTrackedLots-101116#

Charles Addams
Heritage Auctions item description

The drawing merited a full page in The New Yorker, something you really don't see there anymore. I think we can all agree that it was worth the space.

Charles Addams
The New Yorker, January 15, 1949, p. 32

Charles Addams
Original art
The New Yorker, January 15, 1949, p. 32

A cartoon by Charles Addams and a Profiles illustration by Lorenz [?]

https://archives.newyorker.com/newyorker/1949-01-15/flipbook/032/

Frank Emerson Denison

Lorenz [?]

The New Yorker, January 15, 1949, p. 33

Note:  It occurs to me that some of you youngsters may not know what I mean when I write of Charles Addams's "more famous ski cartoon." Well, it's a classic from The New Yorker's issue of January 13, 1940 and you can find it in the archives here.

The obituary of previous art owner Kevin P. Connell (1941-2017) may be examined here. When the cartoon was first published, he wasn't quite eight. The death notice states he was a "Key advance man for the 1968 Presidential campaign of Robert F. Kennedy & organizer for George McGovern's [Senate] reelection." My guess is that Connell purchased the Addams art in the 1960s. In the 1950s he was simply too young, and by the 1970s I think the art might have cost more than $500.

Is the profile illustration signed Lorenz? Lucaz? Waz? Who is this artist?

04627

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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