I was doing some research on another project recently (totally unrelated to Hunter S. Thompson) and I accidentally stumbled upon this interesting historical document:

This is the immigration card Hunter Thompson signed when he arrived in Brazil on May 25, 1962. (Note that the card appears to say “1960.”)

He spent most of that year exploring South America and writing reports for a new publication called The National Observer. This was to be a huge breakthrough in his career. He was given a substantial amount of freedom and he used this to reach a large audience with his often hilarious reporting.

You can read more in High White Notes: The Rise and Fall of Gonzo Journalism. You can also read about his South American voyage in The Footloose American: Following the Hunter S. Thompson Trail Across South America by Brian Kevin.

I’m sure some of you may also be interested in the evolution of Thompson’s signature. Whether signing his initials or full name, his signature was quite different from this later in life.