CLICK HERE FOR AUCTION LISTING!Double mat display contains 9.5x19" artboard w/four panels of pen and ink original art w/screentone accents for Dec. 3, 1977 daily strip by Gary Trudeau. Strip features popular Doonesbury character Uncle Duke (who debuted in the strip just over three years before), a character initially based on the alter ego of Gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson - Raoul Duke. In the strip, Uncle Duke speaks to someone on the phone, noting that he's no longer the "Candy Man," a reference to his former drug smuggling ways. The last panel shows a tiny military plane dropping bombs on Uncle Duke's bar supplies. Trudeau has signed last panel. Printed Universal Press Syndicate copyright date in first panel. This art was donated to NORML (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Law), where it was auctioned off in a NORML fundraising auction that took place on Dec. 3, 1978 at the Capitol Hill Hyatt Regency. This event featured Hunter S. Thompson (who would serve on the board's advisory committee for over 30 years, until his death) as the keynote speaker, but in typical Thompson fashion, he was escorted off the stage. Someone associated w/High Times Magazine offered to get Thompson to sign this Doonesbury art, which he did. Top margin has been boldly inscribed "BEWARE" w/Thompson adding "11/33/78" date, a great eccentric Hunter S. Thompson touch. Thompson has signed art twice, once at top and again in second panel, both signatures consisting of just his initials; signature within art has added "Hunter" at the bottom of loop flourish. Art has been signed in blue ballpoint pen, which has faded in the ensuing 46 years. This affects both of Thompson's signatures, which while lt., remain somewhat legible. Art itself remains clean and just shows aging to screentone accents. VF overall. Comes with JSA LOA. A wonderfully meta piece, signed by the wild and unconventional writer who inspired the character featured in the original art offered here.
