There are only 100 copies of the limited edition of Red Shark (2003) and they're each signed by Ralph Steadman, Anna Steadman, Joe Petro III, and Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. It's twenty years now since publication and we can find copy no. 86 currently listed online by Booklegger's Fine Books.
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| Ralph Steadman AbeBooks listing accessed August 9, 2023 |
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| Helen E. Hokinson The New Yorker, November 27, 1937 |
I have been writing posts here for more than ten years now, but it's no secret that I am not entirely on my own. In my blogging pursuit I am fortunate to be aided by a dedicated group of knowledgeable readers and contributors with incredible resources and expertise that often seem to perfectly complement what I can provide. I owe so much to each of the individuals listed below for offering their generous help to me over this past year. Friends, I thank you all:
Linda Appleby
Tom Bloom
Daniel Borinsky
Steven D. Brewer
Dick Buchanan
Scott Burns
David from Manhattan
A Friend of the Blog
Joel Jacobus
Stephen Kroninger
David Leopold
Michael Maslin
Jeff Nelson
Joe Petro III
TNBIB
Sally Williams
Note: Labels that link to posts made possible or more complete by each of these contributors may be found below, with a couple of exceptions. The post on the Lüchow's guest book is itself too full of celebrity names to have room for any contributor labels. Tom Bloom, Joel Jacobus, and David Leopold (the latter apparently through the miracle of Twitter) provided invaluable insights. I have no room below for a label linking to the older post helped along by TNBIB, who provided a valuable update on the topic of Ludwig von Drake cufflinks. Say what you will, no other blog covers these topics.
Last but by no means least, I wish to thank my family, who makes everything worthwhile.
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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.
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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.
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| 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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Hunter S. Thompson's first book, Hell's Angels (1967), describes his year with the California motorcycle gang. It was not illustrated by Ralph Steadman. Nevertheless, Steadman and the book's author signed this copy at Owl Farm, Thompson's home, for printmaker and friend Joe Petro III in 2004. The illustrator added a written tribute to his author friend as well as a drawing of Thompson on a scooter.
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| Ken Lopez, Bookseller |
Note: As always, original illustrations by Ralph Steadman make welcome posts on this blog. Look for another marvelous copy of this book tomorrow.
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| Charles E. Martin The New Yorker, November 26, 1966 https://archives.newyorker.com/newyorker/1966-11-26/flipbook/CV1/ |
I want to use today to thank those generous individuals who have contributed to this blog over the past year. It's been a difficult year for all of us, but this blogging pursuit has been blessed with more support than ever in 2020. Frankly, the number and quality of the submissions has quite often taken my breath away. Friends, I thank each and every one of you:
Tom Bloom
Dick Buchanan
Scott Burns
John Colquhoun
David from Manhattan
Frank Ferrante
A Friend of the Blog
Sarah Getz
Claude Haber
Joel Jacobus
Stephen Kroninger
Joe Petro III
Steve Stoliar
Jerome Wrinkle
Labels linking to posts made possible by each of these contributors may be found below, with the exception of A Friend of the Blog, who causes me to exceed my 200-character limit on labels. A link instead is provided here.
My thanks also to those family members and friends who have helped me out in a great variety of ways, usually anonymously. You know who you are. I also wish to thank my family for putting up with this whole outlandish pursuit of mine.
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Joe Petro III, who recently shared with us four books dedicated by Saul Steinberg to his art dealer Betty Parsons, now shows us his own copy of Saul Steinberg (1978) personalized by the artist. Note that the artwork with collage elements depicted on the cover is dated 1953 and 1968.
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Saul Steinberg (1978) Photo by Joe Petro III |
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| Photo by Joe Petro III |
Note: My thanks to Joe Petro III for sharing with us some of the treasures from his private library. Joe's Wikipedia entry is right here. This is his fifth contribution to the blog and so far each has been a wonderful Saul Steinberg book. I would love to post other Steinberg treasures from other libraries on Attempted Bloggery so please send your scans or photos. No Wikipedia page required.
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The year 1945 saw the release of Saul Steinberg's collection All in Line. The book is extraordinary. So is his art dealer Betty Parsons's copy.
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| Photo by Joe Petro III |
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| Photo by Joe Petro III |
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| Photo by Joe Petro III |
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| Photo by Joe Petro III |
Note: This is the fourth and final book dedicated by Saul Steinberg to Betty Parsons that Joe Petro III somehow chanced upon and added to his library. My thanks to Joe for sharing it here.
Wow. I am eager to show more. If you too have access to personalized Steinberg books, or access to someone with access to them, please send scans or photos to me for use on Attempted Bloggery.
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Saul Steinberg's collection The Inspector was published in 1973. This copy is warmly inscribed to his longtime art dealer Betty Parsons.
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| Photo by Joe Petro III |
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| Photo by Joe Petro III |
Note: Thanks to Joe Petro III for sending me images of this unique book from his collection. Joe has three other books dedicated by Steinberg to Betty Parsons and it's a safe bet you will be seeing them here.
By the way, books personalized by Saul Steinberg are something I'm looking to post on this blog. (Hint.)
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