Alice in Wonderland Signed by Ralph Steadman

Ralph Steadman's 1967 illustrations for Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland are almost fifty years old now, but they were modern classics from day one. A personalized copy of the 2006 paperback edition includes a quick sketch of Alice. She's looking rather angular and a bit crude here, more so than in the fantastical illustrations. This copy of the book was sold on eBay August 16, 2008 for $55.54 plus shipping and insurance.

Ralph Steadman, Alice in Wonderland (1973) by Lewis Carroll

Inscribed with a portrait sketch of Alice "For Stephen Parr from Ralph Steadman 2006."

Note:  This blog's author welcomes photos or scans of signed books by Ralph Steadman, particularly those containing original drawings. Got a Snark to share?

"A Retrospective:  Ralph Steadman" is now on view in New York at the Society of Illustrators through October 22. O frabjous day!

Attempted Bloggery's quick links:

Ralph Steadman

Lewis Carroll

Books Signed to Stephen Parr by Ralph Steadman

All Signed Books with Original Drawings

Attempted Bloggery's curiouser and curiouser index

I'm late!

01974

The Joke's Over Signed by Ralph Steadman

The Joke's Over (2006) is Ralph Steadman's tribute to the writer Hunter S. Thompson, his friend who committed suicide in 2005. Thompson, the founder of gonzo journalism, leads his illustrator friend through a series of ill-advised adventures often involving drugs, alcohol, and guns. Steadman eventually finds a more sustainable path for himself, continuing to illustrate Thompson's American pieces from his studio in England. Steadman's memoir is surprisingly articulate, and the book is ultimately a funny and moving recollection of an engaging if pathologically unstable character.

Ralph Steadman, The Joke's Over, 2006

Inscribed "For Stephen Parr/Ralph Steadman 2006" with a drawing of a cartoon face

Note:  An event in the 2006 publicity tour for The Joke's Over seems to be where Mr. Steadman personalized each of the books for Stephen Parr that have been shown on the blog these past two weeks. Attempted Bloggery welcomes photos or scans of other signed Steadman books, particularly those with original drawings or sketches.

"A Retrospective:  Ralph Steadman" is now on view at the Society of Illustrators in New York through October 22. It's no joke.

Attempted Bloggery's quick links:

Ralph Steadman

Hunter S. Thompson

Books Signed to Stephen Parr by Ralph Steadman

All Signed Books with Original Drawings

Attempted Bloggery's unstable index

01973

Sigmund Freud Signed by Ralph Steadman

In a signed copy of Sigmund Freud (1979), Ralph Steadman transforms the first three letters of Freud's supposed signature into a portrait of everybody's favorite father of psychoanalysis. Go show your mother.

Ralph Steadman, Sigmund Freud, 1979

Inscribed with a portrait sketch of Freud "For Stephen Parr, From Ralph Steadman 2006."

Note: Do you have issues with Ralph Steadman? How about books, letters, sketches, scribblings, ink blots, Rorschachs, anything this master illustrator has touched or smeared or spattered with his hands—informed, of course, by the workings of his subconscious mind? Spare yourself the feelings of guilt, the years of psychoanalysis, the inevitable bouts of depression, and instead share your treasures on the only blog the American Psychiatric Association fears could put its members out of business for good.

The current Ralph Steadman retrospective is cleverly called "A Retrospective: Ralph Steadman"—and that's not a Freudian slip. It's showing right now at the Society of Illustrators in New York City through October 22. Go see it with your analyst.


Attempted Bloggery's quick links:

Ralph Steadman

Sigmund Freud

Psychoanalysis

Signed Books with Original Sketches

Attempted Bloggery's neurotic index

01972

America Signed by Ralph Steadman

Ralph Steadman's America (1989) comes with a disclaimer:  "What you see in these drawings, of course, is not you Americans. They are only cartoons—not to be taken seriously—disregard them. They are terrible propaganda and obviously the ravings of a demented scribbler!" What a relief! In 2006, Mr. Steadman inscribed a copy of the book to Stephen Parr and added some teeth on the C in America just in case his drawings didn't have enough bite.

Ralph Steadman, America, 1989

Inscribed with a sketch of teeth "For Stephen Parr, Ralph Steadman 2006."

Note:  Say, would you like to contribute to this blog? I'll take original drawings, jottings, letters, scratchings, doodles, sketches, or anything else by Ralph Steadman for use here. How's that for an offer?

Try not to miss "A Retrospective:  Ralph Steadman" at the Society of Illustrators in New York, New York. It's a helluva town. Through October 22.

Attempted Bloggery's quick links:

Ralph Steadman

Gerald Scarfe

Ronald Searle

Signed Books with Sketches

Attempted Bloggery's All-American index

01971

Tales of the Weirrd Signed by Ralph Steadman

In 2006, Ralph Steadman inscribed to Stephen Parr a copy of his Tales of the Weirrd (1990), a book about assorted eccentrics which sported its own eccentric title spelling. The artist took care to capitalize all the letters of the recipient's surname in this and the other books he inscribed at the day's signing, just as he capitalizes the first syllable of his own surname in his distinctive signature. This raises the question of whether Mr. Steadman routinely inscribes a volume by capitalizing only the first syllable of his recipient's last name, imitating the asymmetric look of his own iconic signature.

Ralph Steadman, Tales of the Weirrd, 1990

Signed and inscribed "For Stephen Parr from Ralph Steadman 2006."

Note:  I plan to devote the remainder of this week to books by Ralph STEADman with original sketches and inscriptions to Stephen PARR. After that, I am prepared to move on to other subjects although I would happily share other Steadman book sketches with my readers if only some readers would care to share them with me.

You might consider "A Retrospective:  Ralph Steadman" at the Society of Illustrators for your next helping of inspiring illustration art. If you show up on Tuesdays between 5 and 8 p.m. and tell them I sent you they'll let you in for free. Through October 22.


Attempted Bloggery's quick links:

Ralph Steadman

Gerald Scarfe

Ronald Searle

Signed Books

Attempted Bloggery's weirrd index

01970

Inspector Mouse Signed by Ralph Steadman

Inspector Mouse by author Bernard Stone and illustrator Ralph Steadman was published in 1980. It is the sequel to Emergency Mouse of 1978. Whether Ralph Steadman made a drawing like the one here only once or a thousand times, one has to be impressed by the sheer ingenuity involved in transforming the published magnifying glass into a likeness of the jittery mouse.

Bernard Stone, Inspector Mouse, 1980

Inscribed with a drawing of the mouse over the published magnifying glass "For Stephen Parr, Ralph Steadman 2006."

Note:  "A Retrospective:  Ralph Steadman" is now showing in  New York at the Society of Illustrators. If it were up to me, it would be called "Ralph Steadman:  A Retrospective." Otherwise, I'm pretty good with it.

Books signed, dated, inscribed, drawn upon, and otherwise mutilated by Ralph Steadman can be scanned, photographed, commented on, and otherwise documented by their owners for consideration by, inclusion in, or possible rejection from this blog. Steadman collectors please take note.


Attempted Bloggery's quick links:

Ralph Steadman

Bernard Stone

Rolling Stone

Signed Books with Drawings, Sketches, or Doodles

Inspect Attempted Bloggery's index yourself.

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Emergency Mouse Signed by Ralph Steadman

Emergency Mouse is a 1978 story by Bernard Stone with illustrations by Ralph Steadman. A copy of the book signed to Stephen Parr by the illustrator includes a quick portrait sketch of the harried mouse.

Bernard Stone, Emergency Mouse, 1978

Inscribed with a portrait sketch of the mouse "Ralph Steadman 2006 for Stephen Parr"

September 28, 2016 Update:  This book was purchased August 2, 2008 on eBay for $36.00.


Note:  You can see "A Retrospective:  Ralph Steadman" at the Society of Illustrators in New York. The show is on view through October 22.

Books signed by Ralph Steadman, particularly those including original drawings or sketches, are prized by collectors and by certain bloggers as well. Well, at least by one blogger...

Attempted Bloggery's quick links:

Ralph Steadman

Hunter S. Thompson

Rolling Stone

Signed Books with Drawings or Sketches

Attempted Bloggery's mousy index

01965

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

01964

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