London, Allen Lane/Penguin, 1967. The first British edition of Thompson's first book, which he wrote after spending a year hanging out with (and getting beaten up by) members of the famous motorcycle gang. One of the first examples of the participatory "gonzo" journalism that Thompson perfected. Signed by the author ("H.S. Thompson"), with his rubber stamp "Sexually Explicit Material" above the signature. With a full-page multi-color drawing of Thompson by Ralph Steadman, with the caption "Don't Draw Hunter, Aspen Chapter [of the Hell's Angels]." A near fine copy in a very good, rubbed dust jacket with wear to the crown and a creased tear at the upper rear spine fold. Much scarcer than the American edition: we suspect the hardcovers represent some sort of edition for libraries or a trial publication and not an edition that was distributed to the book trade in general. In custom clamshell case. [#024636] SOLD

All books are first printings of first editions or first American editions unless otherwise noted.

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