“Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” is probably one of only a few books around that needs no introduction. In a trip which began as coverage for an article and ended as a search for the American dream, HST branded the literary world with “pure Gonzo journalism.” I think we can safely say it is the Holy Grail of Hunter Thompson’s first editions.

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream. © 1971 Hunter S. Thompson.

(1971) (November 11) San Francisco. Rolling Stone Magazine. Issue 95. “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas,” part 1.

(1971) (November 25) San Francisco. Rolling Stone Magazine. Issue 96. “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas,” part 2.

(1971) New York. Random House. First edition. Hardcover with dust jacket

(1971) New York. Popular Library. First US edition, softcover in wraps.

(1972) London. Paladin. Softcover wraps. No first edition hardcover issued for UK market.

(1974) Amsterdam. De Bezige Bij. First Dutch edition, softcover. Translator unknown.

(1976) New York Popular Library. Mass market paperback.

(1977) Paris. H. Veyrier. First French edition. Softcover. Translated by Philippe Mikriammos.

(1979) Barcelona. Producciones Editoriales. First Spanish edition softcover.

(1982) New York. Warner Books. Softcover in black illustrated wraps.

(1982) New York. Warner Books. Softcover in blue illustrated wraps.

(1987) Barcelona : Editorial Anagrama. Spanish edition. Softcover. Translated by J.M. Alvarez Flórez and Angela Pérez.

(1989) London Paladin. Softcover.

(1989) New York. Vintage. Softcover.

(1991) US. Quality Paper Back Book Club. “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” & “Generation of Swine” between the same cover in the form of a Book Club edition.

(1993) London. Paladin. Softcover.

(1994) Paris. UGE. French edition. Softcover. Translated by Philippe Mikriammos.

(1996) New York. Modern Library. Hardcover with dust jacket.

(1998) New York. Modern Library. Hardcover. Movie tie-in dust jacket. “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and Other American Stories.” Includes “Kentucky Derby is Decadent and Depraved” and “Strange Rumblings in Aztlan.”

(1998) London. Flamingo. Soft cover with movie tie-in.

(1998) Denmark [Kbh.] : Gyldendal. Softcover. Design similar to that of original dust jacket. Translated by Morten Sabroe.(1998) Munich. Goldmann. First German edition, softcover with movie tie-in.

(1999) Budapest. Új Mandátum. Hungarain edition. Softcover with movie tie-in. Translated by B. András Vágvölgyi.

(1999) Paris. Editiones. First French edition, softcover with movie tie-in.

(1999) Helsinki. Loki-kirjat. Finnish edition. Softcover. Possible movie tie-in. Translated by Arto Schroderus.

(1999) Milano. Bompiani. Italian edition, softcover with movie tie-in. Translated by Sandro Veronsei.

(1999) Antwerp. Ambo/Anthos. Dutch edition softcover. Translated by Guido Golüke.

(1999) Tokyo. ロッキング・オン (Rocking On Inc) . Japanese first edition. Hardcover with dust jacket. 332 pages. With movie tie-in photo. Back cover looks like blotter acid (fake of course) with a couple of tabs missing. Translated by Hiroo Yamagata. A most excellent edition and a collectors dream.

(1999) New York. Applause Books. “Not the Screenplay” Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. By Terry Gilliam (director of the movie) and Tony Grisoni. Softcover. Title “Not the Screenplay” is a dig, by Gilliam at the original writers.

(1999) Slovinia. Ljubljana : DZS. Slovenian edition. Softcover with movie tie-in. Translated by Mate Dolenc and Roman Brilej.

(2001) Koprivnica Croatia. First Croat edition. Softcover. Only 700 produced.

(2001) Moscow. Adaptec /T-Ough Press. First Russian edition, hard cover with dust jacket. Only 5000 printed.

(2003) London. Flamingo. Soft cover new design.

(2004) Paris. Editiones. Paperback. Translated by Philippe Mikriammos.

(2005) Serbia. Zograf. Serbian edition. Softcover from the Biblioteka Prevodi series. Translated by Nenad Župac.

(2005) London. Harper Perennail. New edition. Softcover with biographical information at the back of book.

(2005) Moscow. ACT Moskva. Softcover from the Al’ternativea series. Translated to Russian by Aleks Kervi.

(2005) Recorded Books. Audio book.

(2006) New York. Simon & Schuster. Mass market paperback.

(2007) Sao Paolo. Conrad Editora do Brazil. Softcover, wraps similar to that of 1971 Popular Library edition. Translated by Daniel Pellizzari.

(2008) Warsaw. Wydawnictwo Niebieska Studnia. Soft cover. Translated by Marcin Wróbel and Potulny.

(2010) Estonia. Eesti Päevaleht Softcover. Translated by Mihkel Kaevats.

There are 2 editions printed in Hebrew. One in 1998 and the other in 2001. The 2001 edition was published by Penn Publishing Ltd Tel Aviv. I’m still trying to find the publisher of the 1998 edition.

Compilation, format & synopsis © Martin Flynn 2011.