AN

ILLUSTRATE
USTRATED MISCELLANY
ED MISCELLANY
Other books by
published by

Mammoth Boo
Tattoo
Tattoo Sh
New Tatt
Other books by Lal Hardy,
published by Robinson:

Mammoth Book of Tattoos

Tattoo Art
Tattoo Showcase
New Tattoo Art
y Lal Hardy,
Robinson:

ok of Tattoos
o Art
howcase
too Art
AN ILLUSTRATE

LAL H
FOREWO
USTRATED MISCELLANY

LAL HARDY
FOREWORD BY
ED MISCELLANY

HARDY
ORD BY
ROBINSON
First published in Great Britain in 2017
by Robinson Copyright in collections © Lal Hardy
Copyright in the individual artworks, unless
otherwise stated © the respective creators, 2016.
Foreword © Matt Lodder.
Text © Lal Hardy.

IMPORTANT NOTE
Every effort has been made to trace and contact
copyright holders. If there are any inadvertent
omissions we apologise to those concerned, and
ask that you contact us so that we can correct
any oversight as soon as possible.

The moral right of the author has been asserted.

All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced,
stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted,
in any form, or by any means, without the
prior permission in writing of the publisher,
 A CIP catalogue record for this book is
Britain in 2017 available from the British Library.
n collections © Lal Hardy.
ual artworks, unless ISBN 978-1-47213-691-6
spective creators, 2016.
r. Designed and typeset by
Andrew Barron, Thextension Robinson
is an imprint of
Little, Brown Book Group
ade to trace and contact Carmelite House
e are any inadvertent 50 Victoria Embankment
to those concerned, and London EC4Y 0DZ
o that we can correct
possible. An Hachette UK Company
www.hachette.co.uk
uthor has been asserted. www.littlebrown.co.uk

on may be reproduced,
m, or transmitted,
eans, without the
ng of the publisher,
 A CIP catalogue record for this book is
available from the British Library.
y.
ISBN 978-1-47213-691-6

Designed and typeset by

Andrew Barron, Thextension Robinson
is an imprint of
Little, Brown Book Group
Carmelite House
50 Victoria Embankment
EC4Y 0DZ

An Hachette UK Company
www.hachette.co.uk
www.littlebrown.co.uk
 CONTE

Author and Co
Foreword by Dr
Introduc

Machine Part
Hand To
Animal Ma
Stencils & A
 CONTENTS

Author and Contributors vii

oreword by Dr Matt Lodder xi
Introduction xv

Machines 2
Machine Parts & Plans 22
Hand Tools 28
Animal Marking 40
Stencils & Acetates 46
Suppliers 52
ENTS

ontributors vii
Matt Lodder xi
xv

ts & Plans 22
28
40
Acetates 46
 Fan Car

Certifica
The Great

Postage Sta

Magazin
 Fan Cards 116
Flyers 118
Certificates 122
The Great Omi 126
India 130
Tribes 136
Postage Stamps 142
Art 146
Magazines 154
Books 160
T-Shirts 168
116

122
126

142

154
 CONTRIB

Lal Hardy was born in L

an interest in tattooing

revival of the mid-1970s.

first tattoo, a panther’s

Dave Cash in Wood G

Hardy was tattooing fro

 AUTHOR &
CONTRIBUTORS

was born in London in 1958. He took

in tattooing during the Teddy Boy

e mid-1970s. In 1976 he received his

a panther’s head and dagger, from

in Wood Green, London. By 1978,

tattooing from his home. Then, in

Naresh Bhana I was born in Londo
French

mother and Indian father. My first tat
of

large-scale photographs and projection
six

or seven. I first got tattooed at fourteen
to

become a tattooist, but it took till my
Willy Robinson In 1992, Alan D
trade.
working


I began to collect books, machines and
full-time in his tattoo studio at S
from
Germany,


friends and colleagues that needed to de
and I began work with a good friend, dea


always felt that these treasures should
repairing one-arm bandits from Las Ve
which


my weekends as a mobile disc-jockey
why I now have a museum at my stu

London,
around the British forces camps to en
was already involved in a pub business,


known as The World’s Smallest T
troops.
dream of Both
one dbay
eing British,
owning Alan and w
a nightclub, I
relinquishing
 was born in London in 1967, the Summer of Love, to a

My first tattoo memory is of visiting an exhibition

raphs and projections of Japanese tattoos when I was about

t tattooed at fourteen, and was instantly hooked. I resolved

, but it took till my early twenties to find a path into the

In 1992, Alan Dixon was

books, machines and other tattoo items on my travels and

tattoo studio at Sennelager,

ues that needed to declutter, or realise some assets. I have

ith a good friend, dealing in and
ese treasures should be shared rather than hidden away,
bandits from Las Vegas. I spent
is
mobile disc-jockey, travelling
museum at my studio, Flamin’ Eight in Camden Town,
forces camps to entertain the
ed in a pub business, and with me being a disc-jockey with a
World’s Smallest Tattoo Museum. I look forward to
g British,
wning Alan and w
a nightclub, I se truck up atogether to chase the dream.
decided
and I would practise on pigskin, beco
threw

the lines and shading and I would colo
laser

and became the first tattoo studio in th
grew

from there, with the addition of a series
the

shops had Alan’s name on them, and t
Dixon

was eventually born, Originally we m
tattoo

machines and other products, mostly
runs

own studio in Florida and I have sp
Lanzarote,

Canary Islands. I am following a new d
biggest

tattoo museum in the world.
 se on pigskin, becoming a ‘filler-inner’ on designs. Alan
on

ng and I would colour. Two months later, we purchased a

st tattoo studio in the world to offer laser removal. Things

e addition of a series of shops in Germany and America. All

ame on them, and the wholesale company Robinson and

rn, Originally we made piercing jewellery, followed by

er products, mostly manufactured in a pigsty! Alan now

his

orida and I have spent the last two-and-a half years in

m following a new dream, and on the path to opening the

the world.
Greg Ardron I guess my hunger fo
tattoo

machines (or anything tattoo-related)

serious in June 1987, when I received
good

mate John Poole, who worked with P

Davidson in Fortitude Valley, Brisban
John
bought it on the spot. I’d always tried to
had been contacted by the widow of th
but

Collins, Aussie tattoo artist, in regards
this lot was a definite kick.
of
(legendary

Frank’s tattooing equipment in one lo
Aussie tattoo artist and machine builde
the

interested in a couple of boxes of bits
usual transfers, colour and colour pow
garage
news

clean-up. I jumped at them. There were
clippings, clip cords and power units
there
around

(sometimes with cosmetic flaws that
fifteen to twenty machines. I flew up to
guess my hunger for collecting

hing tattoo-related) began to get

87, when I received a call from

who worked with Pete and Rod

ude Valley, Brisbane, Australia.

ot. I’d always tried to get any machines that came my way,
d by the widow of the late Frank

too artist, in regards to selling all

nite kick. A short while later, my old mate Bob Wood

equipment in one lot. As well as

and machine builder) turned up at my place to see if I was

uple of boxes of bits and pieces he’d thrown together in a

our and colour powders, letters,

at them. There were about eight to ten complete machines

ds and power units, there were

cosmetic flaws that made them unsellable) and enough

achines. I flew up to Brisbane the
Dr Matt Lodder, 2016.
 FOREW

Shortly before the outbr

War, folklorist and c

ventured to London’s

buy some tattooing tools

modern electric tattoo

tools for tattooing by h

 FOREWORD

re the outbreak of the First World

rist and collector Edward Lovett

London’s docklands in order to

attooing tools for his collection – a

ctric tattoo machine, ivory-handled

ttooing by hand, and bottles of ink

TOP RIGHT A South Seas bone
tattoo hand tool.
BOTTOM LEFT Tattoo humour
from East Hills Tattoo Studio,
Australia.
Electric tattooing was a fairly recent i
1914 – barely 20 years old – and so it’s p
Lovett realised just how interesting an
these tools would come to be, and that
at
the Horniman realised that these re
new
machines could trace their lineages
comparable when looked at in any anth
time
when these objects are displayed side
and
very space to some of the oldest
fundamental
basic act of puncturing the skin to le
art-making practices of the huma
shared
Though
by almost all human cultures as far bac
the tattooing tools of the Maori are tech
we
distant from the This is a book, th
have yet discovered. electric-powere
machines
of
of the twentieth-century tattooer,
interesting things over a period of tia
was a fairly recent invention in

ars old – and so it’s poignant that

t how interesting and important

ome to be, and that the curators

alised that these revolutionary

race their lineages back across

ooked at in any anthropological detail, it is clear, especially

s are displayed side by side in a single collection, that the

me of the oldest and most

uring the skin to leave a permanent mark is something

ices of the human species.

n cultures as far back in time and as far across the globe as

of the Maori are technologically

e This is a book, then, about collecting – the acquisition

electric-powered, buzzing

century
tattooer, and though
over a period of time, to be treasured, kept, hoarded,
nervous first-timer, with the constant b

soap and disinfectant, and the exotical
the

same time, this frisson of danger, threa

the appeal and part of what drags peop

and once their skin is marked for the f

fears were overblown – it’s almost inev

the analogy with potato chips, or with

perfect: collecting tattoos is not like co

laborious to acquire, as the collector m

creation. They cannot easily be bought

one’s relatives (though there are ma
tattooed

skin after death!). They are not valuabl

might be, nor do they appreciate in valu

r, with the constant buzzing of machines, the faint smell of

ant, and the exotically-tattooed staff and customers. But at

son of danger, threat, oddity and romance is a huge part of

t of what drags people over the threshold in the first place,

n is marked for the first time – once they realise that their

wn – it’s almost inevitable they’ll be back for more. And yet

otato chips, or with other types of collecting, is not quite

tattoos is not like collecting stamps – they are painful and

A well-used sheet of flash f
the 1980s, Kings Cross Tat
e, as the collector must be present for every second of their Studio, Sydney, Australia.

not easily be bought, sold, gifted as objects or passed on to

hough there are many examples of the preservation of

They are not valuable in the same way as a rare Penny Black

ey appreciate in value like carefully curated objects in other

 well-used sheet of flash from
he 1980s, Kings Cross Tattoo
tudio, Sydney, Australia.
TOP LEFT Jimmie Skuse,
drive other c
tattoo collector and historian,
showing a portrait of his

grandfather, Les Skuse, another is dr
tattooed by Darren Stares of by
Portsmouth, UK. Les’s son and
Jimmie’s father, Danny, is on
a deep and
the right.
BOTTOM RIGHT Paul ‘Rambo’
aesthetics
Ramsbottom, owner of
Rambo’s Tattoo Museum, and its cultu
Manchester: one of the finest the
private collections in the world.

equipment and ephemera, objects in th
particula
equipment of

tattoo curio
and designs of European and America
entirely Despite

the holdings
in private hands. Though early profe
time east

London (and
museums, studying designs and histor
their
Pitt Rivers
Museum
artistic practice, museums did not pay
is
American Ar
little
entirely due to tattoo artists and passio

 drive other collectors, and that urge to get one after

another is driven primarily and in most cases only

a deep and abiding love of the art-form, its
aesthetics

and its cultures. In many ways, the collectors of
the

objects in this book have assembled their cabinets
phemera, particularly the early tools, inks,

tattoo curiosities for exactly the same reasons.
ropean and American tattoo artists, are almost
Despite

the holdings at the Horniman Museum in south-
Though early professional tattoo artists spent
east in

London (and later acquisitions at places such as the
g designs and histories in order to better inform

Pitt Rivers in Oxford and the Smithsonian
Museum
useums did not pay their art the same respect. It of

American Art in Washington), museums have paid
little
oo artists and passionate lovers of tattoo culture

Lal Hardy, c.1979.
 INTROD

The seeds of my

tattoo memorabilia we

hood. I spent my ear

grandparents, and m

films with a naval or

Mutiny on the Bounty

 INTRODUCTION

of my passion for collecting

morabilia were planted in child-

ent my early life living with my

and my grandfather loved

a naval or pirate theme, such as

the Bounty, Treasure Island and


ABOVE A large array of tattooing
publications is available today.
BOTTOM RIGHT A sixty-year-old
Popeye tattoo, tattooed in an
unknown studio in Dalston,
London.
My grandparents on
lived in the sou
town of Brighton
holidays were ofte
the Lanes. There used
antique, junk and
where I would
through matchboxes,
medals, badges and
anything I found
day in my teens
North Road in Brig
also no specialist tattoo magazines, wh
a black sign with
are now over painted
neatly thirty monthly on publicatio
it,
arents on my father’s side

the southern English coastal

Brighton and my school

were often spent exploring

There used to be a host of

junk and bric-a-brac shops

would spend hours sifting

matchboxes, cigarette cards,

dges and stamps… in fact,

found interesting. One

my teens I was walking down

in Brighton when I spied

attoo magazines, whereas there

sign with the word tattooist

d
monthly
publications
on it, available.
above a door set
TOP RIGHT Henk Schiffmacher,
All these publications were frequently
aka Hanky Panky: tattoo artist,
collector and leading authority
or
on tattoo history.
not returned to public libraries, su
demand

for tattoo information even at that time

claimed that Skin Deep was the most
from

the library system in the UK!

sales and second-hand bookshops
volumes

on tattooing in other cultures. I wou
index

of any books likely to meet this crite
words

such as Maori, Ainu, Tattoo and Bod
to this young collector. The trade then
and
This

would often find a little treasure within
was before email, and I would exchang
be

ons were frequently stolen from

public libraries, such was the

ion even at that time; it was even

was the most stolen book

n the UK! I used to visit jumble

-hand bookshops looking for

her cultures. I would scan the

y to meet this criterion for key

nu, Tattoo and Body-marking,

ctor. The trade then was still pretty much a closed shop.

little treasure within the covers,

nd I would exchange business cards and photos with other
RIGHT Souvenir tattoo-
shop fridge magnets from
Amsterdam.
BOTTOM Exhibit from Rambo’s
Tattoo Museum, Manchester.
This is a recreation of Cash
Cooper’s studio. The wax
model is of Ron Ackers’
(1932–2004).
OPPOSITE PAGE Beautiful
traditional flash from the 1960s
by Bob Woods, Australia.

created: Lyle Tuttle in San Francisco,

Titchener

in the UK and Japanese tattoo lege
Yokohama

Tattoo Museum, were some of the fi
tattooing

flourishing unabated, especially with m
le in San Francisco, Hanky Panky in Amsterdam, Lionel

panese tattoo legend Horiyoshi 111, who founded the

were some of the first to do this. With the interest in

ed, especially with mass audience TV shows such as LA Ink

Lal Hardy
INSET Micky Sharpz of the
famous UK tattoo supplies
company built this telephone-
dial tattoo machine, so named
due to resemblance to an
old-fashioned telephone dial.
This tattoo machine was made
for the author in the early to
mid-1980s. The author added
the lurcher ornament to
personalize the machine.
OPPOSITE PAGE A portable
tattoo kit containing built-in
transformer, inks, machines,
and more. Travel kits, trunks
or cases were often used by
tattooists who moved around
with circuses, fairs and
carnivals. They tend to be most
ingenious in their construction,
often being assembled to form
a compact version of a studio.
Though there do

air-powered tattoo m

whelming majority of

main categories: those

magnetic coils and th

motor. Some fierce d

 MACHINES

here do exist clockwork and

tattoo machines, the over-

majority of tattooers favour two

ories: those powered by electro-

oils and those driven by rotary

me fierce divisions exist between

4

1 Tattoo machine, possibly an

Ultra E-coil, U-coil or mono
coil machine, using one coil
instead of the more common
two coils.
2 Rotary machine. Origin
unknown, but similar machines
were built in the UK by Tony
Lynx of Birmingham and Tattoo
Jock in London in the 1970s
and 1980s.
3 Single coil tattoo machine
made by Lionel Titchener,
Oxford, UK. The manufacturer’s
stamp can be seen on the
frame.
4 A Spaulding and Rogers
Supreme USA coil tattoo
machine from the 1980s,
rebuilt by Dave Bryant, UK.
Bryant’s signature can be seen
on the armature bar. The coils
sport details of the lynx and
rabbit designs.
5 Cast swallow-frame coil
tattoo machine by Tony Lynx.
6

BELOW Wooden presentation box

with plaque to commemorate
Bristol tattoo artist Dave Ayres
(1965–2009). The box contained
two knuckle-duster frame
coil tattoo machines made in
Ayres’ memory by Micky Bee
of Coventry, UK. The machines
were presented to the author
at the 2011 Southsea Tattoo
Extravaganza for services to
tattooing.
RIGHT & FAR RIGHT Detail, and
full image, of Dave Ayres’ tribute
tattoo machine.
LEFT A coil tattoo machine
by Chris Smith, USA.
BELOW The coil wraps are a
original Norman ‘Sailor Jer
Collins acetate.
LEFT A coil tattoo machine built
by Chris Smith, USA.
BELOW The coil wraps are an
original Norman ‘Sailor Jerry’
Collins acetate.
11
15
BELOW Re-built coil tattoo
machine, possibly a Tato Peter
machine rebuilt by Micky
Sharpz, UK.
RIGHT Close-up armature bar
of a Burchett Davis coil tattoo
machine. Nowadays rubber
grommets and bands would
be used to secure the needle
bar to the armature bar nipple
rather than the thread and nut
method shown here.
LEFT Detail of a rotary tatto
machine made by Joe Hard
UK.
BELOW The machine from
above. This rotary was
ingenious in its design if no
somewhat cumbersome
compared to many of the
newer lightweight rotaries.
LEFT Detail of a rotary tattoo
machine made by Joe Hardy,
UK.
BELOW The machine from
above. This rotary was
ingenious in its design if not
somewhat cumbersome
compared to many of the
newer lightweight rotaries.
21
INSET An ‘E’ symbol used as
a guarantee of the quality
of electrical goods on
packaging for electromagnetic
movements made by Edwards
of Connecticut, USA.
OPPOSITE PAGE Electromagnetic
coils salvaged from various
sources such as doorbells
were often recycled in
the construction of tattoo
machines.
 PARTS &

Tattoo machines re

through the decades,

materials, and manufa

refined the finished prod

buy everything from c

to individually handcra

 MACHINE
PARTS & PLANS

achines remain largely similar

e decades, but new technologies,

and manufacturing methods have

finished product. Now it is easy to

ing from cheap and mass-produced

ally handcrafted machines, but in

25
OPPOSITE PAGE Electric
doorbells were commonly
deployed in building tattoo
machines.
LEFT Careful craftsmanship
went into the construction o
wooden box with a hook-ca
on this doorbell.
BELOW LEFT The mechanism
this type of doorbell includ
electromagnetic coils which
can be re-used in tattoo
machines.
BELOW Iron railroad spikes
were used by some tattoo-
machine builders.
OPPOSITE PAGE Electric
doorbells were commonly
deployed in building tattoo
machines.
LEFT Careful craftsmanship
went into the construction of a
wooden box with a hook-catch
on this doorbell.
BELOW LEFT The mechanism of
this type of doorbell includes
electromagnetic coils which
can be re-used in tattoo
machines.
BELOW Iron railroad spikes
were used by some tattoo-
machine builders.
26

OPPOSITE PAGE These sketches

for a pair of machines based
on old-time tattoo designs are
by the author and artist Martin
Clark, and were drawn in 1994.
RIGHT The finished products
were built in the UK by Tony
Bennett from the Isle of Wight,
and engraved by the late
‘Painless’ Jeff Baker of Deal,
Kent.
INSET Machine-made needle
holders.
OPPOSITE PAGE Selection of
carved tattoo hand tools in the
style of those developed by
tribes of Borneo, South-east
Asia.
 HAND T

Tattooing by hand, as

has been practised for

as demand for tradit

increases, artists who

create tattoos known

‘stick ’n’ poked’. Colour

 HAND TOOLS

y hand, as opposed to machine,

ractised for centuries. In the West,

for traditional body adornment

rtists who work in this manner

oos known as ‘hand-poked’, or

oked’. Colour coverage, shading and

31

OPPOSITE PAGE Iron wood ink-

mixing bowls. Purchased in
Kuching, Sarawak, Borneo.
LEFT Burmese tattoo tools i
brass, decorated with deitie
These are replicas but often
sold as genuine artefacts. In
Thailand, monks create Sak
Yant tattoo designs using s
long spiked metal instrume
BELOW LEFT The metal shaft
tapers to a point that is used
puncture the skin.
BELOW Detail of one of the
deities cast in brass.
LEFT Burmese tattoo tools in
brass, decorated with deities.
These are replicas but often
sold as genuine artefacts. In
Thailand, monks create Sak
Yant tattoo designs using such
long spiked metal instruments.
BELOW LEFT The metal shaft
tapers to a point that is used to
puncture the skin.
BELOW Detail of one of the
deities cast in brass.
Modern replicas of tradition
bone tattoo implements.

LEFT The construction of th

hand-tattooing tool made o
wood and bone is extremel
simple.
BELOW AND BELOW LEFT
were carved and presented
the author by a visiting Ma
artist.
Modern replicas of traditional
bone tattoo implements.

LEFT The construction of this

hand-tattooing tool made of
wood and bone is extremely
simple.
BELOW AND BELOW LEFT These
were carved and presented to
the author by a visiting Maori
artist.
ABOVE Decorative Burmese RIGHT Bone tattoo combs set
tattoo kit with brass in wooden handles from the
hand-tapping instruments, South Pacific region. In Samoa,
instruction book and card intricate Pe’a (traditional
concertina of designs. tattoos) are created by using
OPPOSITE PAGE Modern replicas
of traditional hand tools from
Bali.
LEFT ABOVE & BELOW
finely-carved animal heads
intended to hold tattoo need
but do not seem secure
enough for practical use.
LEFT ABOVE & BELOW These
finely-carved animal heads are
intended to hold tattoo needles,
but do not seem secure
enough for practical use.
Tattoo kit box lids with designs
characteristic of the Iban, the
majority indigenous population
of Borneo. In Borneo, the Iban
and Dyak tribes use a wooden
stick with needles set at right
angles which is tapped with
another stick to pierce the skin.

RIGHT A carved crocodile.

OPPOSITE PAGE A traditional
Iban-style design.
39

OPPOSITE An army deserter-

branding tool believed to
be from the late nineteenth
century.
ABOVE The fine needles are
LEFT Humorous brass monkey
on top of a Burmese tattoo
stick.
BELOW LEFT Ornately carved
tattoo boxes containing hand-
tattooing kits. These were
purchased in Sarawak, Borneo,
but probably made in Bali.

ABOVE Japanese traditional

Tebori tool with needles tie
the end.
LEFT Detail of tebori tool. I
Japan, the method known a
LEFT Humorous brass monkey
on top of a Burmese tattoo
stick.
BELOW LEFT Ornately carved
tattoo boxes containing hand-
tattooing kits. These were
purchased in Sarawak, Borneo,
but probably made in Bali.

ABOVE Japanese traditional

Tebori tool with needles tied to
the end.
LEFT Detail of tebori tool. In
Japan, the method known as
Animal ear-marking kit.

INSET Ear punch, digits and

instruction leaflet.
OPPOSITE PAGE The original
box from the stock breeder’s
supplies manufacturing
company, Denver Colorado,
USA.
OVERLEAF Chinchilla-marking
kit with extensive instructions.
Note the finger switch on the
machine tube.
 ANIMAL M

The marking of anima

can be traced back n

branding, freeze bra

and tattooing have all

identification purposes.

laboratory animals are t

 ANIMAL MARKING

ng of animals, especially livestock,

ced back nearly 4,000 years. Hot

freeze branding, slap marking

ng have all been used for animal

purposes. Livestock, pets and

nimals are tattooed using a variety

RIGHT Animal ear-marking kit
with punch and digits.
BELOW RIGHT Camel with neck
branding for identification
purposes.
BELOW German tattoo ink for
animal marking.
OPPOSITE PAGE Decorative
animal skull (possibly water
buffalo) with anthropoidal
modifications, showing
tattoo-design engraving, from
Thailand.
INSET Acetate designed by
Norman ‘Sailor Jerry’ Collins
(1911–1973).
OPPOSITE PAGE Acetates by Lee
Roy Minugh from the 1950s.
 STENCILS &

Tattoos can be applied

best tattoo artists usuall

for more precise results

Thermo-fax stencil ma

had to be drawn onto

by reusable handmade s

STENCILS & ACETATES

be applied freehand, but even the

artists usually prefer to use stencils

recise results. Before the advent of

stencil machines, designs either

drawn onto the skin, or transferred

handmade stencils. In one method,

OPPOSITE PAGE Cut acetate with
Friday 13th cat design.
LEFT Panther acetate design
by ‘Jens’.
BOTTOM LEFT Acetate with a
classic design by ‘Don’.
BOTTOM RIGHT Acetate featu
an eagle and a flag.
LEFT Panther acetate designed
by ‘Jens’.
BOTTOM LEFT Acetate with a
classic design by ‘Don’.
BOTTOM RIGHT Acetate featuring
an eagle and a flag.
TOP LEFT AND RIGHT Songster
brand 78 RPM gramophone
needles, commonly used to cut
tattoo designs into acetates.
BELOW LEFT Crawling panther
acetate designed by Norman
‘Sailor Jerry’ Collins.
BELOW RIGHT Acetates showing
classic designs: a butterfly,
and an eagle wrapped around
the globe, with a scroll for
typography.
THIS PAGE Hectographic-
carbon-on-tracing-paper
stencils with punk and
skinhead designs by the
author’s studio, New Wave
Tattoo, London, 1980s.
THIS PAGE Hectographic-
carbon-on-tracing-paper
stencils with punk and
skinhead designs by the
author’s studio, New Wave
Tattoo, London, 1980s.
INSET Whistlestop Tattoo
Accessories supply catalogue,
issued by John Entwistle aka
Johnny Dollar, Melbourne,
Australia, 1980s.
OPPOSITE PAGE 1979 National
Tattoo Supply catalogue, USA.
Cover art, showing fantasy
tattooed warrior fighting a
sea-monster, by Cliff Raven
(1932–2001).
 SUPPL

In my earl

the tattoo
was

frustrated
to

where to
contacted
established artists. Just in ti
minded
Harrods, a
 SUPPLIERS

In my early days of trying to break into

the tattoo world in the mid-1970s, I
was so

frustrated by the lack of information as

where to buy tattoo equipment that I
contacted
tists. Just in time for me, some business-
folk saw
Harrods, after hearing that the London
OPPOSITE PAGE 1978 Spaulding
and Rogers catalogue, USA.
Cover art by Don Nolan.
UK tattoo supply catalogue
from the 1980s.

TOP LEFT Elden’s.

TOP RIGHT, BOTTOM LEFT
AND BOTTOM RIGHT
Panther Products.
UK tattoo supply catalogues
from the 1980s.

TOP LEFT Elden’s.

TOP RIGHT, BOTTOM LEFT
AND BOTTOM RIGHT
Panther Products.
1 Tattoo Factory supplies
catalogue Birmingham, UK
1980s.
2 Ted Boswell supplies
pamphlet with a traditional
geisha girl tattoo design,
Kettering, UK, 1978.
3 Spaulding and Rogers USA,
catalogue, 1981, with cover art
by Don Nolan.
4 Price guide by National
Tattoo Supply, USA: ‘Fast and
courteous service’.
5 Spaulding and Rogers USA,
catalogue, 1977, with cover art
by Ed Hardy.
6 Spaulding and Rogers USA,
price list, 1988–89.
7 Picture Machine Tattoo,
design catalogue by Pat
Martynuik (1937–1989), USA.
56
INSET Ultra Tattooing Supplies
instructional booklet: The Art of
Tattooing.
OPPOSITE PAGE Classic Ultra
e-coil one-piece spring
machine.
 Ultra Tatt
short-

lived Engl
Started

by Kev H
operated

to claim: ‘If you can’t tattoo w
them!’ from the
Bradford,

one thing that set Ultra apart
 ULTRA

Ultra Tattoo Supplies was a relatively

short-

lived English tattoo supply company.
Started

by Kev Hague in the mid-1970s, it
operated

u can’t tattoo with them, you can weld with
from the back of a sex shop Thein
Bradford, West

set Ultra apart was that they made tattooing
THIS AND OPPOSITE PAGE
Selection of Ultra Tattoo(ing)
Supplies catalogues from the
1980s.
OPPOSITE PAGE Coloured
flash sheet given away free
with Ultra Tattoo Supplies
catalogue.
LEFT Ultra Supplies discoun
vouchers.
OPPOSITE PAGE Coloured
flash sheet given away free
with Ultra Tattoo Supplies
catalogue.
LEFT Ultra Supplies discount
vouchers.
RIGHT Ultra e-coil machine.
BELOW Ultra tribute machine
by Derek Campbell and Scott
Guildford, London, 2014.
OPPOSITE PAGE Ultra Supplies
promotional flyer for new
machines with chrome-plated
grips.
INSET TOP Commemorative
sew-on patch from Tattoo Expo
’86, London.
INSET MIDDLE Needle Gangsta
members sew-on patch.
INSET BOTTOM Sew-on patch
from Greg Ardron’s studio,
Australia.
OPPOSITE PAGE Enamel pin
badges depicting The Great
Omi (see pages 126 to 129) by
Bill Salmon, San Francisco,
1982.
 BADGES &

Tattoo in
and

iron-or
been

produce
organizations

and club
The

BADGES & PATCHES

Tattoo insignia in the form of badges

iron-or sew-on patches have long

produced for the members of

and clubs such as Needle Gangstas,

RIGHT An assortment of tattoo-
themed button and pin badges.
BELOW Badge with classic
tattoo humour: ‘Nice tattoo —
did you do it yourself?’
FAR LEFT BTAF – British T
Artist Federation – forty-ye
anniversary and membersh
enamel badge.
LEFT Assorted tattoo-theme
sew-on patches.
BELOW OTTC – Old Timers
Tattooist Club – member’s
enamel pin badge.
FAR LEFT BTAF – British Tattoo
Artist Federation – forty-year
anniversary and membership
enamel badge.
LEFT Assorted tattoo-themed
sew-on patches.
BELOW OTTC – Old Timers
Tattooist Club – member’s
enamel pin badge.
INSET Stick-on tattoos
featuring a bulldog in the
England team’s football kit.
These types of temporary
tattoo are always popular
around the time of big
international football events
such as The Euros or World
Cup.
OPPOSITE PAGE Lick-‘em-
and-stick-‘em tattoo sheet,
featuring many military and
patriotic themes from the
American World War Two era.
 CARDS & TR

Bubblegum
have

around si
original

paper tra
water

saliva, lick
meant that three-colour desig
modern, the

CARDS & TRANSFERS

Bubblegum packet tattoo transfers

have been

around since the early 1900s. The
original

paper transfers were applied with
water or

saliva, lick-’em-and-stick-’em style. In
ree-colour designs have been superseded by
the

Temporary tattoo kits
containing paint-on removable
tattoo inks, brushes and
transfers.

TOP LEFT A kit in a tin by Vince

Ray, a prolific British illustrator
and artist whose artworks
are immensely popular within
the tattoo world and found
on numerous tattoo-related
products.
TOP RIGHT A tin from Temptu
in New York: paint-on tattoos
enjoyed a short-lived period
of success after the release of
the film Tattoo (1981), starring
Bruce Dern and Maud Adams.
BOTTOM LEFT A temporary
tattoo marker pen by Horiyoshi
III of Yokohama, Japan. Bottom
right: an early paint-on tattoo
kit from the late 1970s.
72
‘Tat-toons’ issued by Topp
in 1993. Each pack contain
a card and a tattoo transfer.
Ten cards were required to
complete the jigsaw, plus a
key card.
‘Tat-toons’ issued by Topps
in 1993. Each pack contained
a card and a tattoo transfer.
Ten cards were required to
complete the jigsaw, plus a
key card.
RIGHT Wrapper for Sailor’s
Tattoo bubblegum by the
Dandy company, Copenhagen,
Denmark. Renowned Danish
tattoo artist Ole Hansen
(1929–1988) designed many of
the tattoo transfers that came
in these packs.
BOTTOM LEFT Pirate Tattoo
bubblegum wrapper from
Barratt sweet company, UK.
BOTTOM RIGHT 1940s American
lick ’n’ stick tattoo sheet.
Japanese stick-on tattoos
pack, 1990.
Japanese stick-on tattoos
pack, 1990.
These cards by Primrose
Confectionery Company, UK,
came free with packets of
sweet cigarettes. Primrose
issued several Popeye series
in the 1960s and 1970s: Popeye
must surely be the most
famous cartoon character to
wear tattoos.

BELOW Instruction card from

Topps Tat-toons series 1993.
OPPOSITE PAGE An array of
temporary tattoos of all kin
dating from 1940s to 2000s
OPPOSITE PAGE An array of
temporary tattoos of all kinds,
dating from 1940s to 2000s.
76
RIGHT Trading card issued by
Topps, 1993, featuring Tattoo
Guy aka Melvin Monroe from
The Simpsons, an American
animated sitcom created by
Matt Groening for the Fox
Broadcasting Company.
BOTTOM Rusty Skuse, ‘Britain’s
most-tattooed person’, was
featured on this Guinness Book
of World Record Breakers card
from 1980. A Guinness-branded
card album was also sold.
TOP LEFT A spoof trading ca
advertising ‘Painless’ Jeff
Baker’s Studio in Deal, Ke
UK.
TOP RIGHT Topps Garbage P
Kids trading cards featured
illustrations of various tatto
kids in the 1980s.
BOTTOM LEFT This card
illustrating traditional tatto
was issued by Liebig’s Ext
of Meat Company, which w
founded in 1865 by Justus
Liebig. In 1870, the compa
started to publish trading
cards and produced over 11
designs till their cessation i
1975.
BOTTOM RIGHT A geisha desi
by Ole Hansen, Denmark, f
the Dandy Sailor bubblegu
tattoo range of trading card
TOP LEFT A spoof trading card
advertising ‘Painless’ Jeff
Baker’s Studio in Deal, Kent,
UK.
TOP RIGHT Topps Garbage Pail
Kids trading cards featured
illustrations of various tattooed
kids in the 1980s.
BOTTOM LEFT This card
illustrating traditional tattoos
was issued by Liebig’s Extract
of Meat Company, which was
founded in 1865 by Justus von
Liebig. In 1870, the company
started to publish trading
cards and produced over 11,000
designs till their cessation in
1975.
BOTTOM RIGHT A geisha design
by Ole Hansen, Denmark, for
the Dandy Sailor bubblegum
tattoo range of trading cards.
79
Dandy Sailor bubblegum
packaging and a selection
of cards with designs drawn
by Ole Hansen, Copenhagen,
Denmark, based on traditional
tattoo themes, 1960s–70s.
INSET An order form for
Christian Warlich from
a German photographic
developers, supporting
the author’s theory (see
accompanying introduction).
OPPOSITE PAGE Master tattooist
Christian Warlich with three
male clients displaying his
artistry. Note Warlich’s formal
attire.
 GLASS NE

These gla
belonged

to the
tattooists

Christian
known

managed to salvage it. How
plates father of G
Warlich’s

a mystery, until I noticed an
 GLASS NEGATIVES

These glass plate negatives originally

belonged

to the self-proclaimed king of
tattooists

Christian Warlich (1890–1964),
known as the

alvage it. How Warlich had acquired these
father of German tattooing. Much of
was
Warlich’s

til I noticed an embossed stamp for Percy
Advertisement in German and
English for Christian Warlich’s
tattoo studio: with thirty years’
experience, the king of tattoo
offered electric tattooing in all
kinds of colours. The sign also
publicizes tattoo removals, and
a guarantee against stings and
nicks.
Stella Grassman was tattoo
by her husband, Samuel
‘Deafy’ Grassman, in the 1
Both worked as tattooists in
Philadelphia and New York
and Stella was an attraction
many shows across the US
Stella Grassman was tattooed
by her husband, Samuel
‘Deafy’ Grassman, in the 1920s.
Both worked as tattooists in
Philadelphia and New York,
and Stella was an attraction at
many shows across the USA.
One of Christian Warlich’s
male clients exhibiting his arm
and chest tattoos in front of a
poster for Warlich’s modern
tattoo studio and a selection
of his fashionable Oriental
designs.
Anne ‘Artoria’ Gibbons
(1893–1985) was tattooed b
her husband Charles ‘Red’
Gibbons (1879–1964). Arto
worked for some thirty-five
years as a tattooed lady
attraction. Many of her tatt
were inspired by Italian art
of the Renaissance, includi
Michelangelo and Raphael
masterfully executed by Re
Gibbons.
Anne ‘Artoria’ Gibbons
(1893–1985) was tattooed by
her husband Charles ‘Red’
Gibbons (1879–1964). Artoria
worked for some thirty-five
years as a tattooed lady
attraction. Many of her tattoos
were inspired by Italian artists
of the Renaissance, including
Michelangelo and Raphael,
masterfully executed by Red
Gibbons.
Stella Grassman, tattooed by
her husband Samuel ‘Deafy’
Grassman in the 1920s, made
her living as a tattooed lady
attraction.
Close examination shows
the embossed stamp of
Percy Waters (1888–1952)
USA. Waters was one of th
most famous tattooists of h
era, with two studios and a
international supply busine
Waters invented an electric
tattooing machine in 1929
became an industry standar
The lady in the photograph
might be the American
tattooed lady attraction Bet
Broadbent (1909–1983). W
may have sold photos of
tattooed people through his
supply company.
Close examination shows
the embossed stamp of
Percy Waters (1888–1952),
USA. Waters was one of the
most famous tattooists of his
era, with two studios and an
international supply business.
Waters invented an electric
tattooing machine in 1929 that
became an industry standard.
The lady in the photograph
might be the American
tattooed lady attraction Betty
Broadbent (1909–1983). Waters
may have sold photos of
tattooed people through his
supply company.
89
OPPOSITE PAGE A group of
heavily tattooed Japanese.
Kanji characters can be rea
on the edge of the negative
LEFT Christian Warlich at w
on the arm of a male client
front of a poster advertising
designs.
OPPOSITE PAGE A group of
heavily tattooed Japanese.
Kanji characters can be read
on the edge of the negative.
LEFT Christian Warlich at work
on the arm of a male client, in
front of a poster advertising his
designs.
BOTH PAGES Stella Grassman
tattooist and tattooed lady
attraction, posing to show
tattoos by her husband,
Samuel ‘Deafy’ Grassman,
USA, between the 1920s an
‘40s.
BOTH PAGES Stella Grassman,
tattooist and tattooed lady
attraction, posing to show
tattoos by her husband,
Samuel ‘Deafy’ Grassman,
USA, between the 1920s and
‘40s.
Stella Grassman, posing to
show tattoos by her husband
‘Deafy.’
Stella and ‘Deafy’ Grassma
were both tattooists who
operated studios in both
New York and Philadelphia
between the 1920s to 1940
The Grassmans featured in
Bernard Lyle Kobel’s phot
sets.
Stella and ‘Deafy’ Grassman
were both tattooists who
operated studios in both
New York and Philadelphia
between the 1920s to 1940s.
The Grassmans featured in
Bernard Lyle Kobel’s photo
sets.
INSET The Tattooing of Minors
Act 1969 (UK), prohibiting
tattoos to those under the age
of eighteen, meant this type
of sign was – and still is –
common in tattoo studios.
OPPOSITE PAGE At one time,
highly visible tattooing on the
face, hands and neck was
deemed unacceptable by
many in British society. This
sign gives notice of a studio’s
refusal to tattoo the face, with
a ‘double price’ levied as a
deterrent for neck and hand
tattoos.
 Tattoo stu
with

informatio
advice

and rules.
on
not as liberal as they tend t
tattoos w
following
the
priced highly to dissuade cl

 SIGNS

Tattoo studios all need to display signs

with

information such as times, prices,
advice

and rules. Some of those reproduced
on
as they tend to be today. Hand and neck the
would be
following pages refer to laws, such as
the
to dissuade clients and, for many artists,

1 A sign by Roy Proudlove
of Crewe, UK, warns that
‘Tattoo’s [sic] Last Longer Than
Romance’s [sic]’.
2 Sign from a London studio in
1963. Artist unknown.
3 Another sign from an age
when tattoos that could not
be covered were generally
discouraged. This was hand
98
5 A modern sign displaying
tattoo humour – ‘A £25 fee for
whining or moving’ – painted
for the author by Papa Joe
Dawson, USA.
6 Tattoos sign painted in
English and Arabic by a
roadside artist in North Africa.
7 Sign from Jim Silles studio,
Edmonton, UK, 1980s.
8 In London in the 1970s
and 80s it was common for
tattoo studios to be closed on
Tuesdays. This sign is from
the author’s studio, New Wave
Tattoo, 1980s 9 Studio sign from Tattoo
Jack’s, Liverpool, UK.
8 In London in the 1970s
and 80s it was common for
tattoo studios to be closed on
Tuesdays. This sign is from
the author’s studio, New Wave
Tattoo, 1980s 9 Studio sign from Tattoo
Jack’s, Liverpool, UK.
99
INSET Churchman’s cigarette
packets each contained a
collector’s card. This one, of
legendary tattooist George
Burchett (1872–53), is from
their ‘In Town To-night’ series
of 1938. The reverse of the
card mentions that Burchett
‘tattooed a man’s face in the OPPOSITE PAGE
fashion of a zebra, and this travelling tattoo
subject now makes a living by wooden box, co
exhibiting himself’ (see The original stencils
Great Omi, pages 126–129). It coil machine.
also remarks that Burchett
then made his living mainly by
tattooing permanent make-up.
OPPOSITE PAGE Burchett’s
travelling tattoo kit in its
wooden box, containing
original stencils, inks and his
coil machine.
s, inks and his
 GEORGE B

George B
Brighton,

England, i
at

age of tw
pupils,

thirteen h
honed
in 1900. Burchett’s fame spre

 GEORGE BURCHETT

George Burchett-Davis was born in

Brighton,

England, in 1872. Expelled from school
at the

age of twelve for tattooing fellow
pupils, at

thirteen he joined the Royal Navy. He
honed his
hett’s fame spread rapidly; he even tattooed

BELOW Burchett’s business
card. The writing on the
reverse is significant, as it
refers to Cornellisen and Son
Ltd, an art supplies shop
that has been trading since
1855 and still exists in Great
Russell Street, London, where
tattooists in the know could
purchase pigments – in this
case vermillion red.
RIGHT Burchett’s design
sheets, with colourful images
ranging from the natural to the
fantastical.
102
Burchett’s brother Charles
Burchett Davis ran a small
supply company which bec
Davis Tattoo Supplies. The
photos show a Burchett Da
machine. The needles were
often tied to needle bars pri
to being soldered, and it is
interesting to see a nut and
thread used to secure the
needle to the armature bar.
Burchett’s brother Charles
Burchett Davis ran a small
supply company which became
Davis Tattoo Supplies. These
photos show a Burchett Davis
machine. The needles were
often tied to needle bars prior
to being soldered, and it is
interesting to see a nut and
thread used to secure the
needle to the armature bar.
OPPOSITE PAGE A cinema
advertisement for the film
Primitive London
film features a small scene
George Burchett’s son Lesl
tattooing a bluebird onto a
bleached blonde’s shoulder
LEFT Burchett’s designs fro
a small booklet he sold in
conjunction with his
Tattoo booklet,
OPPOSITE PAGE A cinema
advertisement for the film
Primitive London (1965). This
film features a small scene of
George Burchett’s son Leslie
tattooing a bluebird onto a
bleached blonde’s shoulder.
LEFT Burchett’s designs from
a small booklet he sold in
conjunction with his How to
Tattoo booklet, c.1910.
1 The Art of Tattooing: How to
Tattoo By Hand – Electricity
instruction booklet, c.1910.
2 Paperback edition of Memoirs
of a Tattooist (1960) by George
Burchett, compiled and edited
by Peter Leighton, Great Pan
Illustrated, Macmillan Books
Ltd, London.
3 King of Tattooists: George
Burchett (2013), an excellent
biography by Jon Reiter,
Solid State Publishing.
4 Hardback edition of Memoirs
of a Tattooist (1958), Oldbourne
Book Company Ltd.
5 A treasury of George
Burchett’s and his brother
Charles Davis’s Tattoo Designs,
published by C. W. Eldridge’s
Tattoo Archive.
106
A hand-painted design give
to the author by the Scotsm
known as Tattoo Jock Lidd
(1920–1995) who claimed
Burchett had given it to him
Jock was a great character
storyteller so we have no w
of knowing if this is true.
A hand-painted design given
to the author by the Scotsman
known as Tattoo Jock Liddel
(1920–1995) who claimed
Burchett had given it to him.
Jock was a great character and
storyteller so we have no way
of knowing if this is true.
INSET Message and signature
by legend George Bone,
tattooing for over fifty years in
Hanwell, west London.
OPPOSITE PAGE Both of these
tattoo artists, Alex Reinke and
Wido de Marval, specialise in
Japanese style tattooing, hence
the sketches.
 AUTOGR

Many tatt
collect

signatures
studios

or those t
are
journey through the world of
years.
souvenirs
tattoo
collectors’ market, letters or d

 AUTOGRAPHS

Many tattoo artists, myself included,

collect

signatures from artists visiting their
studios

or those they visit. These autographs
are
gh the world of tattooing over the past forty
In the
souvenirs that commemorate the
tattoo
rket, letters or documents signed by famous

A selection of signatures and
art by visiting American artists

The pages of my visitors’ books

are reminders of so many great
people that I have met in over
forty years in the tattoo game.
OPPOSITE Tattoo studio and
figurines by X Concepts Toys,
2004. The clientele represents
a small cross-section of media
stereotypes that are commonly
tattooed, including a biker,
a provocative blonde and a
skinhead.
INSET The burly tattooist.
 Stick-on
transfers

were onc
aimed

children,
popularity

of tattoo
get tattooed. Totally Stylin’ T
in marketing

 TOYS

Stick-on tattoos and bubblegum

transfers

were once the only tattoo product
aimed at

children, but with the worldwide
popularity

of tattooing, manufacturers began
Totally Stylin’ Tattoos Barbie was launched
marketing 2009,a

Retro-style ceramic self-
assembly tattooed strongman
doll by Temerity Jones,
London. A tattooed lady is also
available. These items were not
aimed at the children’s market.
1 Girls ‘Style-Up Tattoo Ce
kit with washable ink pens
stencils, by Joker.
2 ‘GR8 Kit Tat2’ children’
tattoo pens for use with felt
markers by Character Optio
Ltd.
3 ‘Steffi Love Body Art’ ta
doll by Simba Toys, Austri
4 ‘WCW T’n’T Vampiro’
with fabric T-shirt, and chi
tattoo transfer, by Toybiz, U
1 Girls ‘Style-Up Tattoo Center’
kit with washable ink pens and
stencils, by Joker.
2 ‘GR8 Kit Tat2’ children’s
tattoo pens for use with felt-tip
markers by Character Options
Ltd.
3 ‘Steffi Love Body Art’ tattoo
doll by Simba Toys, Austria.
4 ‘WCW T’n’T Vampiro’ doll
with fabric T-shirt, and child’s
tattoo transfer, by Toybiz, USA.
115
INSET This Japanese-style card
shows an illustration of the
tattoo the fan had tattooed on
their own back.
OPPOSITE PAGE A selection of
various tattoo fans’ cards from
the 1980s. Tattoo Molly went
from fan to tattooist and is
now one of Amsterdam’s best-
known artists.
 FAN C

Before ta
global

phenomen
closed

In some
driven

undergrou
tattoo circuit and some, as i
themselves guarded

 FAN CARDS

Before tattooing became a modern

global

phenomenon, it could be quite a
closed world.

In some countries, tattooing was
driven

underground, and tattooists fiercely
and some, as in the case of Tattoo Molly,
guarded

INSET Flyer for Lionel
Titchener’s studio, Cowley
Road, Oxford, UK, now run
by his son, Barnaby. Lionel
launched Tattoo International
magazine in 1978, ran
numerous conventions
between the 1980s and 1990s,
set up Oxford’s Tattoo History
Museum alongside his studio
and supplies tattoo equipment.
At large conventions he often
exhibits a complete, full-size
turn of the twentieth-century
tattoo room and waxwork
tattooist.
OPPOSITE PAGE The Leu
Family’s Family Iron. Felix
and Loretta Leu and their
children Filip, Ama, Aia, Ajja
and Filip’s wife Titine run
the Leu Family Iron studio in
Lausanne, Switzerland. Felix
Leu aka Don Feliz (1944–2002)
was a visionary tattoo artist
who, along with his partner
Loretta, has influenced tattoo
artists worldwide. Their son
Filip is regarded as one of the
truly visionary tattoo artists
of the modern day and his
wife, Titine, paints beautiful
canvases depicting famous
tattooed people.
 Rather lik
long

been used

effective
enthusiast

and profe
at
drawn and photocopied or pr
availability
and conv
 FLYERS

Rather like business cards, flyers have

long

been used in the tattoo trade as a cost-

effective marketing tool. Tattoo
enthusiasts

and professionals are readily targeted
at events
otocopied or printed in one colour, but the
of
and conventions, and flyers enable
TOP LEFT Flyer for Yoshihito
Nakano’s Horiyoshi 111 studio,
Yokohama, Japan. In 2000,
Nakano founded the Yokohama
tattoo museum. His client base
is truly international, the late
musician David Bowie being
one of his former clients.
TOP RIGHT Reverse of Leu
Family Iron flyer (see page 119).
BOTTOM LEFT Hand-drawn flyer
by Marc Fairburn. Camden
Town in London today boasts
over twenty tattoo studios
in less than a mile, but the
first was Bugs Tattoo, which
opened in the late 1980s. In
the early 1980s I and fellow
tattooist Marc Fairburn, who
worked in Ilford, London, UK,
would set up shop on Sundays
on the stage of the Electric
Ballroom music venue and
tattoo Camden Market’s many
visitors.
BOTTOM RIGHT Flyer for Terry
Wrigley’s studio in Glasgow,
Scotland. Terry (1937–1999)
was a larger-than-life
character, known throughout
the tattoo world. A master at
advertising, he issued tickets
entitling the bearer to nothing:
on the reverse of the ticket
120
A selection of flyers from
Don Ed Hardy, advertising
his San Francisco studio
Tattoo City (top left
and bottom right), and
city events in which he
participated in 1984 (top
right) and 1985 (bottom left).
Ed Hardy is regarded by
many as one of, if not the
most, influential people in
tattooing.
INSET The West London Tattoo
Club (WLTC) was started by
London tattoo legend Jack
Zeek (1933–1999) and is now
run by his son, Sean Zeek.
Over the years, many members
have had the dragon’s head
that is illustrated on WLTC’s
certificates tattooed on
themselves.
OPPOSITE PAGE Certificate of the
Amsterdam Tattoo Foundation
run by Henk Schiffmacher aka
Hanky Panky. Henk has done
much to promote the history
of tattooing and has travelled
widely to research tattooing
and collect tattoo memorabilia.
Henk has also tattooed many
celebrities and musicians,
including the Red Hot Chilli
Peppers, Pearl Jam and
Kurt Cobain.
 CERTIF

When I firs
1970s,

tattoo stud
their

walls certi
clubs,
their local health authoritie
themselves societies,
Certificate

ran small clubs for their clien
 CERTIFICATES

When I first started tattooing in the late

1970s,

tattoo studios commonly displayed on
their

walls certificates from the industry’s
clubs,
alth authorities since 1982. Many studios
societies, guilds and associations.
also
Certificates

bs for their clients and fellow tattooists. On
OPPOSITE PAGE The Tattoo
Club of Japan was started in
the 1970s by Yokohama-based
tattoo artist Mitsuaki ‘Horikin’
Ohwada. Horikin did much to
bridge Japan and the West’s
tattoo cultures. He died in 1989.

RIGHT The iconic bat emblem

of the Bristol Tattoo Club (BTC)
is known in tattooing circles
far and wide. Founded in 1953
by the champion tattooist of
all Great Britain, Les Skuse,
the club promoted quality
tattooing. After Les’s death
in 1973, his son Danny, also a
tattooist, ran the club. Danny
passed in 2009 and his son
Jimmie took over the club,
which still thrives today.
www.bristoltattooclub.co.uk
BELOW RIGHT The National
Tattoo Association began in
1976 as the National Tattoo
Club of the World, founded
and funded by the National
Tattoo Supply company. In
1978, the Association drew up
a set of rules and regulations.
Since those days, the club
has hosted many conventions
and produces a full-colour
members’ magazine and
125
INSET The Great Omi.
Photo: Ian Spooner.
OPPOSITE PAGE Detail of the
facial tattoos of sideshow
and circus attraction The
Great Omi. This is a life-size
sculpture created by Anthony
Bennett for the exhibition
The Body Carnival held at the
Cartwright Hall Museum and
Art Gallery, Bradford, UK, in
2008. Bennett’s sculpture has
since been exhibited in various
locations, and a Facebook page
has been set up to document
Omi’s travels and Horace
Ridler’s life.
 THE GRE

The Great
is,

most fam
attraction

all time.
England

1892, he se
Burchett. Covering his uppe
hands where

 THE GREAT OMI

The Great Omi was, and perhaps still

is, the

most famous tattooed sideshow
attraction of

all time. Born Horace Ridler in
England in

1892, he served in the First World War,
ering his upper torso, face, head, neck and
where with

The Great Omi in his full glory,
depicted in this uncannily
realistic life-size sculpture by
Anthony Bennett.
OPPOSITE PAGE An elaborately
decorated silver tattoo
machine, probably rotary,
with an ink reservoir. Perhaps
adapted from a prayer wheel,
it would not be practical to use,
but rather made for its novelty
value.
INSET The lid is attached to the
spindle with a chain, and can
be removed to reveal the ink
chamber.
 The tattoo
and

varied. M
traditiona

marked
designs.

These m
styles. In a land of such cont
many animals,

 INDIA

The tattoo history of India is immense

and

varied. Many of India’s tribes have
traditionally

marked themselves with tattooed
designs.

These might feature plants and
nd of such contrasting wealth and poverty,
animals, people

A handmade street artist’s
rotary-type tattoo machine.
has been colourfully decora
with plastic beads and a
figurine of Ganesh, the sacr
Hindu god with four arms a
an elephant’s head.
A handmade street artist’s
rotary-type tattoo machine. It
has been colourfully decorated
with plastic beads and a
figurine of Ganesh, the sacred
Hindu god with four arms and
an elephant’s head.
A street artist’s coil tattoo
machine, photographed from
both sides. Such handmade
machines commonly recycle
electrical components from
such goods as cassette players
and electric shavers.
Two tattoo street artists plying
their trade and (top right,
bottom left) working on a client
in a market in Goa, southern
India. Photographs courtesy of
Rhys Gordon.
Two tattoo street artists plying
their trade and (top right,
bottom left) working on a client
in a market in Goa, southern
India. Photographs courtesy of
Rhys Gordon.
INSET A large solid silver ring
depicting a Maori warrior’s
head, sold by Wildcat of
Brighton, UK, a company that
specialized in the manufacture
of body piercing and ornate
silver jewellery.
OPPOSITE PAGE A clay
sculpture of a Maori warrior’s
head with leather and bone
ornamentation. This piece
was purchased by the author
at a jumble sale in 1990. It is
probably a tourist souvenir
from New Zealand, possibly
dating from the 1960s.
 Voyages
undertake

by Capta
Zealand

document
indigenou

tribespeop
more of the world, so the peo
public taken

 TRIBES

Voyages of discovery, such as that

undertaken

by Captain James Cook to New
Zealand in 1769,

documented the appearance of
indigenous

tribespeople in illustrations that were
orld, so the peoples of these places attracted
taken

Replica mokomokai, or
preserved head with traditional
ta moko tattoos from the
indigenous Maori of New
Zealand. Ta moko is unique
to each wearer: its patterns
reveal genealogical facts,
life events and the bearer’s
status. The preservation
of tattooed heads of Maori
warriors and chiefs had been
for two reasons. The first
was as family heirlooms and
scared objects. The heads were
treated with great reverence
and respect, kept in intricately
carved boxes and only brought
out for important ceremonies.
The second reason was as
objects of scorn: heads of
enemies would be publicly
displayed in Maori villages.
Before Captain James Cook’s
landing in New Zealand in
1769 and its subsequent
settlement by Europeans, ta
moko was unknown to the
western world, but afterwards,
a disreputable trade sprung up
trading mokomokai, with some
slaves being forcibly tattooed
or even tattooed post-mortem.
The trade was outlawed, and
a campaign of repatriation
138
A colour plate from a Germ
publication, date unknown,
showing various traditional
forms of tattooing from aro
the world. Books on other
cultures, under umbrella
terms such as ‘mankind’ an
‘peoples of the world’, with
artist’s interpretations of
tribespeople, were very pop
in the Western world durin
the ‘ages of discovery’ from
nineteenth to mid-twentieth
century.
A colour plate from a German
publication, date unknown,
showing various traditional
forms of tattooing from around
the world. Books on other
cultures, under umbrella
terms such as ‘mankind’ and
‘peoples of the world’, with
artist’s interpretations of
tribespeople, were very popular
in the Western world during
the ‘ages of discovery’ from the
nineteenth to mid-twentieth
century.
These trading cards were
produced by Nestlé in 1934, in
a series called ‘The Wonders of
the World’.

1 A married woman of Siara

Island (one of the Solomon
Islands of the South Pacific)
with facial tattooing.
2 A traditional Japanese
upper-body tattoo.
3 A tattooed native of
Nukunono Island, in the South
Pacific.
4 A Maori chieftan’s wife with
chin ta moko.
5 Maori chieftain.
140
6 & 7 Tattooed women
from the Nukunono Islands
South Pacific.
8 A Maori chieftain.
9 Churchman’s cigarette ca
showing a Maori, part of th
series ‘Warriors of all Natio
printed in 1929.
6 & 7 Tattooed women
from the Nukunono Islands,
South Pacific.
8 A Maori chieftain.
9 Churchman’s cigarette card
showing a Maori, part of the
series ‘Warriors of all Nations’,
printed in 1929.
INSET Phonecard with an
illustration of a traditional
tattooed tribesman, Tahiti,
1990.
OPPOSITE PAGE The Mãori
word for stamps is pane kuini,
meaning ‘queen’s head’. This
New Zealand post office first
day cover from 1980 depicts
famous Mãoris.
 POSTAGE

Polynesia
of

world to
culture

on posta
Zealand,
too, have issued stamps featu
the
its rich
numerous
being hand-executed by a

 POSTAGE STAMPS

Polynesian islands are the main region

of the

world to celebrate traditional tattoo
culture

on postage stamp imagery. New
Zealand, with
ed stamps featuring their traditional tattoo,
Pe’a,
its rich tattoo history, has issued
numerous
xecuted by a tufuga ta tatu, or master

A selection of tattoo-themed
stamps.

1 & 2 Stamps from French

Polynesia with photographs of
traditional hand tattooing.
3 A stamp from Sweden with
a photograph of a classic
tattooed love heart.
4 Stamps from New Zealand’s
Definitives collection: 15-cent
stamp shows chief Te Heu Heu
Tukino IV of Ngati Tuwharetoa
Maori tribe. 25-cent stamp
depicts chief Te Hau-Takiri
Wharepapa, who sailed to
England in 1862 to meet Queen
Victoria. 35-cent stamp depicts
Princess Te Puea Herangi from
the Waikato region. 60-cent
stamp shows chief Hakopa
Te Ata-o-tu.
144
6 These Samoan stamps
from the 1980s illustrate the
traditional hand-tattooing
process of the Pe’a, from the
tools to finished Pe’a.
7 The Finnish Åland Islands
chose illustrations of
contemporary tattoo designs
on these stamps from 2006.
8 This English stamp from
1999 is from the Millenniu
series. Entitled The Travell
Tale, it depicts Captain Jam
Cook with a Maori Chief w
traditional ta moko
8 This English stamp from
1999 is from the Millennium
series. Entitled The Traveller’s
Tale, it depicts Captain James
Cook with a Maori Chief with
traditional ta moko face tattoos.
145
INSET Traditional tattoo design
on stretched canvas, origin
unknown.
OPPOSITE PAGE Beryl Cook
(1926–2008) was a British-born
painter who created over 500
paintings. She was at one
time Britain’s most popular
artist, with a unique and
instantly recognizable style
that she used to picture life
in Plymouth, UK, where she
lived. This painting shows her
rendition of Doc Price’s studio
on Union Street, Plymouth.
Image courtesy of
www.ourberylcook.com /
© 2016 John Cook.
 As the in
grows,

tattoo-them
popular

culture, co
more

discrimina
original
good image. Artists and tatt

 ART

As the interest in all things tattoo

grows, and

tattoo-themed graphics permeate
popular

culture, collectors have had to become
more

discriminating. Ever less antique or
original
Artists and tattooists go hand-in-hand, and

THIS AND OPPOSITE PAGE
These two pictures of tattooed
Geisha girls are great and rare
examples of British prison art
of the early 1980s. Each of the
two pictures is made of four
sheets of A4 paper, with the
artwork rendered in biro, ink,
pencils and markers. Both
are by Mark Cornwell, a tattoo
artist and prolific creator of
tattoo artwork.
148
RIGHT ‘The Tattooer’s Art’: BELOW RIGHT An illustration of
a comical illustration from a full-body-suited Japanese
1915, showing a dominant male, dated 1888.
tattooed boxer and a crumbling
opponent being told by a
backer to hit him and stop
looking at the pictures.
BELOW A very old illustration,
possibly late-eighteenth
century, showing various
tattooing adzes and
implements of bone or jade.
The use of the word ‘tattowing’
is of interest, as this was a
term used in the 1700s.
150
This beautifully detailed
engraving of a young sailor
boy receiving a tattoo from
old salt is entitled ‘An Anc
Custom’ and was drawn by
Davidson Knowles (1852–1
This appeared in the
London News of 1880 and
some time has been hand-
coloured.
This beautifully detailed
engraving of a young sailor
boy receiving a tattoo from an
old salt is entitled ‘An Ancient
Custom’ and was drawn by
Davidson Knowles (1852–1901).
This appeared in the Illustrated
London News of 1880 and at
some time has been hand-
coloured.
Three fine examples of the
pop art of Michael Forbes,
one of Scotland’s foremost
artists. Born in 1968, Forbes
is a self-taught painter. His
works are bold, bright and
often mix elements of music,
sexuality, humour and politics
– sometimes with a dark
twist. Forbes’ clients include
Terry Gilliam, Ricky Gervais
and the London Transport
Museum, to name but a few.
www.michaelforbes.co.uk
152
Up until the 1980s no mass-
circulation tattoo magazines
existed, but articles on
tattooing popped up in
surprising places, as in this
Modern Mechanics magazine
from the 1940s.
INSET The magazine’s front
cover.
OPPOSITE PAGE The one-colour
illustrated article within the
magazine: ‘Modern Methods
Improve Ancient Tattooing Art’
by William H. Stockwell.
 MAGAZ

Early tat
short-

lived, d
newsage

reluctan
and

associati
‘Painless’ Jeff Baker, publishe
photocopied publicati

 MAGAZINES

Early tattoo magazines tended to be

short-

lived, due to printing costs and
newsagents’

reluctance to stock them. Some clubs
and

associations produced their own
Baker, published the painstakingly curated,
publications

1 Time Out — in the 1980s a
magazine about, and based
in, London — ran a feature
on facial tattooing and the
ethics of the practice. At this
time, facial tattooing was
very popular amongst young
punks and skinheads, but in
many circles was a cause for
concern.
2 Larry Flynt’s Skin and Ink
magazine was launched in 1993
and today can be bought in
both print and on-line editions.
3 A black and white magazine:
Tattoo, January 1973. More
popular colour magazines
appeared in the 1980s.
The difficulty in obtaining
distribution of independently
published magazines in the
1970s probably explains its
demise.
4 Nowadays, tattooed
superheroes and villains are
mainstays of comics. This
1963 Green Lantern features
one Abel Tarrant, a villain
whose tattoos come to life
if he touches them. In this
edition, ‘Threat of the Tattooed
Man!’ he uses his tattoos to
commit crimes and battle the
superhero Green Lantern.
5 Tattoo International
magazine published by UK
tattooist Lionel Titchener.
An independent monthly
publication launched in 197
it is still produced today.
6 Forum magazine, first
published in 1970 as a
supplement to
an adult magazine consistin
of articles on sex with the
emphasis on journalism rat
than overt sexual images. T
1976 edition’s striking cove
promotes a tattoo-themed
feature.
7 Tattoo Buzz magazine wa
issued to members of the
ETAA, or European Tattoo
Artists Association. It was
originally photocopied and
stapled, and edited and
collated by legendary Glasg
tattooist Terry Wrigley (19
1999). ‘Painless’ Jeff Godf
Baker (1929–2009) of Ken
then took over the reins. In
the 1980s the ETAA was ta
over by the Tattoo Inkorpo
partnership and the name
changed to the Association
Professional Tattoo Artists
APTA, to reflect the increa
membership from outside
5 Tattoo International
magazine published by UK
tattooist Lionel Titchener.
An independent monthly
publication launched in 1978,
it is still produced today.
6 Forum magazine, first
published in 1970 as a
supplement to Penthouse, was
an adult magazine consisting
of articles on sex with the
emphasis on journalism rather
than overt sexual images. This
1976 edition’s striking cover
promotes a tattoo-themed
feature.
7 Tattoo Buzz magazine was
issued to members of the
ETAA, or European Tattoo
Artists Association. It was
originally photocopied and
stapled, and edited and
collated by legendary Glasgow
tattooist Terry Wrigley (1937–
1999). ‘Painless’ Jeff Godfrey
Baker (1929–2009) of Kent, UK,
then took over the reins. In
the 1980s the ETAA was taken
over by the Tattoo Inkorporated
partnership and the name
changed to the Association of
Professional Tattoo Artists or
APTA, to reflect the increased
membership from outside
156
1 – 4 The first four issues
of Tattoo Time magazine,
launched in 1982 by Ed Hardy.
Hailed as one of the truly
groundbreaking publications
within the tattoo world, its
impact was immediate. Five
editions printed between
1982 and 1991 were invaluable
reference materials and rapidly
became collector’s items. Such
was the demand for these
editions that to mark their
thirtieth anniversary Hardy
Marks Publications published a
box set of all five magazines in
hardback.
5 and 6 Tattoo Historian
Magazine, launched in 198
was the brainchild of San
Francisco tattoo legend
Lyle Tuttle. Like many
independently published
magazines it was, sadly, a
short-lived publication.
7 Not strictly a magazine, t
one-off spiral-bound book,
Tattoo Flash, was publishe
in 1989. It featured designs
tattoo artists from across th
world and was sold to bene
Paul Rogers (1905–1990),
he suffered a stroke. Paul
Rogers’ tattoo machines are
acclaimed as some of the
finest ever built.
8 The Old Timers Tattoo C
OTTC, formed twenty-seve
years ago and based in the
UK, only admits tattoo artis
with a minimum of ten yea
in the trade. The OTTC hol
an annual two-day meeting
and publish its own quarter
newsletter, originally produ
by the late ‘Painless’ Jeff B
before Harry Potter of Wic
took over. The newsletter is
now edited by Al Parks of
St Neots, UK.
5 and 6 Tattoo Historian
Magazine, launched in 1982,
was the brainchild of San
Francisco tattoo legend
Lyle Tuttle. Like many
independently published
magazines it was, sadly, a
short-lived publication.
7 Not strictly a magazine, this
one-off spiral-bound book,
Tattoo Flash, was published by C. W. Eldridge and Don Lucas
in 1989. It featured designs by
tattoo artists from across the
world and was sold to benefit
Paul Rogers (1905–1990), after
he suffered a stroke. Paul
Rogers’ tattoo machines are
acclaimed as some of the
finest ever built.
8 The Old Timers Tattoo Club
OTTC, formed twenty-seven
years ago and based in the
UK, only admits tattoo artists
with a minimum of ten years
in the trade. The OTTC holds
an annual two-day meeting
and publish its own quarterly
newsletter, originally produced
by the late ‘Painless’ Jeff Baker
before Harry Potter of Wickford
took over. The newsletter is
now edited by Al Parks of
St Neots, UK.
158
INSET Christian Warlich OPPOSITE PAGE Pierced Hearts
Tätowierungen (1981), by and True Love (1953) by Hanns
Stephan Oetterman. Ebensten was one of the first
This small paperback book books on tattooing to be made
reproduces in full colour many available to the general public.
of the tattoo designs of famed
Hamburg tattooist Christian
Warlich (1890–1964). In 2015
there was uproar in the tattoo
trade when ‘bootleg’ copies
of the book went online: such
was the outcry, the books were
withdrawn from sale.
 Books on
to

very few a
1980s,

the three
in

UK were
to find they had either been s
Rumour George

 BOOKS

Books on the subject of tattooing used

to be

very few and far between. Up until the
1980s,

the three best-known available books
in the

UK were Memoirs of a Tattooist by
ad either been stolen or were long overdue.
George has

Reissued hardback of The
Maori As He Was (1924) by
Elson Best (1856–1931). Best
was one of the world’s leading
ethnographers and this volume
documents Maori life prior
to the arrival of Europeans in
New Zealand, including their
tattooing traditions.
The Tattoo Book
C.H Fellowes. This hardbac
contains a collection of
designs by Fellowes. Accor
to Chuck Eldridge’s much
respected Tattoo Archive
website (www.tattooarchiv
com), little is known of this
artist. Fellowes’ hand-tattoo
kit and design book were fo
in 1966 and sold to a privat
collector.
The Tattoo Book (1971) by
C.H Fellowes. This hardback
contains a collection of
designs by Fellowes. According
to Chuck Eldridge’s much
respected Tattoo Archive
website (www.tattooarchive.
com), little is known of this
artist. Fellowes’ hand-tattoo
kit and design book were found
in 1966 and sold to a private
collector.
TOP LEFT The Tattooists (1977)
by Albert L.Morse was a large
format hardback book limited
to 2,500 copies, featuring
photos and profiles of a host of
American tattooists of the era.
TOP RIGHT Dragon Tattoo
Designs (2005) by D. E. Hardy
was published by Hardy Marks
and is an invaluable source.
BOTTOM LEFT Stoney Knows How
(1982) tells the story of tattooist
and cicus performer Leonard
L. St Clair (1912–1980), who was
known in the trade as ‘Stoney’.
BOTTOM RIGHT The Rock Star
Tattoo Encyclopedia (1982) by
Patricia Steur documents the
tattoos of many contemporary
rock musicians.
164
TOP LEFT Cover &
title page of The History of
Tattooing and its Significan
(1925) by W. D. Hambly. T
one of the most comprehen
works on the traditional
tattooing techniques of non
Western cultures at the tim
BOTTOM LEFT Cover of
Sport and Adventure
my early collecting days
I would trawl through seco
hand bookshops looking fo
Victorian editions like thes
they often contained article
tattooing.
BOTTOM RIGHT Illustration fr
an article on Marquesan (T
Marquesas are Polynesian
islands in the South Pacific
Ocean) tattooing traditions
this volume.
TOP LEFT Cover & TOP RIGHT
title page of The History of
Tattooing and its Significance
(1925) by W. D. Hambly. This is
one of the most comprehensive
works on the traditional
tattooing techniques of non-
Western cultures at the time.
BOTTOM LEFT Cover of Pictorial
Sport and Adventure (1902). In
my early collecting days
I would trawl through second-
hand bookshops looking for
Victorian editions like these as
they often contained articles on
tattooing.
BOTTOM RIGHT Illustration from
an article on Marquesan (The
Marquesas are Polynesian
islands in the South Pacific
Ocean) tattooing traditions in
this volume.
165
These books by Cindy Ray
from 1962 carry a bit of extra
tattoo history.

TOP AND BOTTOM LEFT This was

given to me by tattoo legend
Lyle Tuttle.
BOTTOM RIGHT This was given
to me by Lucas Hendrickx
(1960–2016) from El Templo
Tattoo Museum, Torremelinos,
Spain.
The World of Japanese Ta
(1973) by Iizawa Tadasu w
one of the first books availa
in the West on
traditional Japanese tattooin
This edition belonged to tat
legend Les Skuse of Bristo
UK, as can be seen on the
original postal packaging.
The World of Japanese Tattooing
(1973) by Iizawa Tadasu was
one of the first books available
in the West on Irezumi, or
traditional Japanese tattooing.
This edition belonged to tattoo
legend Les Skuse of Bristol,
UK, as can be seen on the
original postal packaging.
INSET T-shirt with a black
and white design depicting
US President Barack Obama
with a tattoo. Issued by
Berkeley Tattoo Parlour, USA
to commemorate the first
anniversary of their shop, 2009.
The scroll says: ‘HELLA TIGHT,
HECKA RAW.’
OPPOSITE PAGE Cindy Ray’s 70th
birthday celebration T-shirt
designed by Zoe Keevil, signed
by Cindy Ray.
 Rather lik
card

method o
tattoo

trade, T-sh
the

promotion
allegiance or membership to
mid-1980s, since

 T-SHIRTS

Rather like the traditional business

card

method of advertising within the
tattoo

trade, T-shirts have played a big part in
the

promotion of tattoo artists and studios
membership to a particular group. By the
since

TOP Knights of the Round
Shader are a tattoo history
group. This members’ T-shirt
was designed by Martin ‘Tatts’
Clark, Watford, UK.
BOTTOM LEFT Members’ T-shirt
by Needle Gangsta tattoo club,
established 1993.
BOTTOM RIGHT Tattoo humour
shirt by the author.
LEFT BTC Bristol Tattoo Cl
members’ T-shirt. BTC is t
oldest running tattoo club i
Britain, founded by Les Sk
in 1953 and now run by his
grandson, Jimmie Skuse.
BOTTOM LEFT Tattoo humou
T-shirt by Fat Bob’s studio
Ipswich, UK.
BOTTOM RIGHT T-shirt by Int
You, London, one of the m
iconic studios in the city,
owned by Alex Binnie. Sad
after trading from 1993, Int
You closed its doors in 201
LEFT BTC Bristol Tattoo Club
members’ T-shirt. BTC is the
oldest running tattoo club in
Britain, founded by Les Skuse
in 1953 and now run by his
grandson, Jimmie Skuse.
BOTTOM LEFT Tattoo humour
T-shirt by Fat Bob’s studio,
Ipswich, UK.
BOTTOM RIGHT T-shirt by Into
You, London, one of the most
iconic studios in the city,
owned by Alex Binnie. Sadly,
after trading from 1993, Into
You closed its doors in 2016.
171
Examples of Japanese body-
suit-themed T-shirts.
Examples of Japanese body-
suit-themed T-shirts.
INSET AND OPPOSITE PAGE
‘Getting a Tattoo’ from the
Old Salts ™ Collection by
Beachcombers International
Inc., 2002.
 CERAMICS &

Clay figu
were

decorated
5,000–
collector, mass-market produ

investment.
3,500 BC

examples
A Hakata doll from Japan, p

depicting
of tatto

amulets.
tattooer working in the t

CERAMICS & FIGURINES

Clay figurines found in Japan that

were

decorated with tattoo patterns dated
5,000–
s-market products can represent a wise future

3,500 BCE might well be the earliest
examples
l from Japan, produced in the 1950s, and

a
of tattoo-themed ornaments or
amulets.
king in the traditional tebori hand-tool

OPPOSITE PAGE Front and artist and tattooed model lovers’ names. M
back view of a china statuette known as ‘the classy lassie 2012, hand-pain
pin-up girl, painted by the with the tattooed chassis’). resin, approxim
Australian artist known as BELOW Bad Taste Bears, created by Pete
Fran Dragon Lady and ‘Ed and Hardy’: the tattooist © Peter Underh
presented to the author in bear pausing to ponder his www.badtasteb
the early 1990s by Cindy Ray mistake on a client’s (‘Art’s’)
(a famous Australian tattoo latest addition to a string of
lovers’ names. Model no. 332,
2012, hand-painted plastic
resin, approximately 8 cm tall,
created by Pete Underhill.
© Peter Underhill
www.badtastebears.co.uk
 Model no. 332,

mately 8 cm tall,
179
TOP LEFT Painted pottery
commemorative vessel from
Horiyoshi III (Yokohama, Japan,
tattoo museum) presented to
visitors on its opening in 2000.
TOP RIGHT Novelty tattoo money
savings jar in blue-painted
pottery.
BOTTOM Delft limited edition
plate made for the 1984
Amsterdam Tattoo Convention
hosted by Henk Schiffmacher,
aka Hanky Panky.
TOP LEFT Vintage Hakata
‘Urasaki’ china doll, showi
a Japanese tattoo artist
creating a dragon design on
a geisha’s back. About 20 c
tall, made in Japan in the 19
by Craftsman Hakata Dolls
BOTTOM LEFT The finely pain
details of the geisha’s head
TOP LEFT Vintage Hakata
‘Urasaki’ china doll, showing
a Japanese tattoo artist
creating a dragon design on
a geisha’s back. About 20 cm
tall, made in Japan in the 1950s
by Craftsman Hakata Dolls.
BOTTOM LEFT The finely painted
details of the geisha’s head.
Bad Taste Bears: ‘Sailor Jerry’
and a tattooed model, created
by Pete Underhill.
Handcrafted demonic head
made by American tattoo
artist Paul Booth of Last Ri
Tattoo, New York, USA. B
is internationally acclaimed
his demonic-themed tattoo
Handcrafted demonic head
made by American tattoo
artist Paul Booth of Last Rites
Tattoo, New York, USA. Booth
is internationally acclaimed for
his demonic-themed tattoo art.
‘Tattoo artist’ limited edition
model in painted resin by
Fantasy Gifts, The Tattoo
collection, 2001.

RIGHT Close-up of the tattoo

artist concentrating on his
work.
FAR RIGHT The client, already
sporting a number of colourful
tattoos, appears to enjoy the
process.
BOTTOM The gift box.
OPPOSITE PAGE The model
boasts many realistic details.
INSET A trophy from the North
Lakes Tattoo Show, 2010, won
by Hannah Aitchison of the
USA for best colour tattoo.
OPPOSITE PAGE European Tattoo
Artists Association award from
1987. The Event was held at
the Grosvenor Hotel, London.
The trophy was engraved by
‘Painless’ Jeff Baker, who
had an engraving business
alongside his tattoo one.
 Tattoo aw
main

categorie
bodies

for servic
actual

tattoos,
or promoter of the indus
outstanding competit

 AWARDS

Tattoo awards generally fall into two

main

categories: those given by industry
bodies

for services to tattooing, and those for
actual

tattoos,
of the awarded
industry, or in to winners of
recognition
competitions tattooing

188
189
INSET A modern postcard
showing Princess Christina aka
‘The Human Fresco’: a tattooed
attraction who exhibited at
the Panopticon music hall
in Glasgow, UK. The original
photo is dated c.1920.
OPPOSITE PAGE Entitled ‘You’re
a Member of a Cult’ by artist
Tabula Rasa, this postcard
depicts a breastfeeding child
covered in tattoo-style big-
brand corporate logos, 2004.
 POSTC

Postcards
illustratio

to fall in
humour,

sideshow
anthropol

Saucy
the heavily tattooed men
attraction produceda

 POSTCARDS

Postcards featuring tattoo

illustrations tend

to fall into three main categories:
humour,

sideshow entertainment, and
anthropology.

Saucy
attooed seaside
men postcards,
or ladies that such
were as a those
big
producedat carnivals,

1 Wallona Aritta, a heavily
tattooed Australian lady,
c.1900s.
2 A German postcard showing
an American fakir called Mr
William who, according to
the card, had a tattooed dog.
Research reveals that this
tattooed dog was in fact Mr
Williams’ tattoo of a prairie
dog. The card is dated 1904.
3 ‘Fatima, The Only Tattooed
Lady in 8 Different Colours.’
This image appears on other
cards bearing the name
Madiah Surith. It seems
she was an attraction at
‘Dreamland Circus’ in Coney
4 Published by Maoriland
c.1912, this card shows
a female with chin moko
(traditional Maori tattoo)
carrying, according to the
card’s outdated description,
‘piccaninny’ (this was a racist
term used to describe dark-
skinned children).
5 A German postcard showing
‘La Bella Angora’, c.1906,
described as ‘The Queen of
Tattooed Women.’ La Bella
claimed to have been forcibly
tattooed when captured by
American Native Indians.
6 Maori Chief Anehana.
Photograph by New Zealand
192
8 ‘A Japanese H
title on this han
from 1904, from
‘Ellanbee’.
9 A Maori Chie
handwriting ref
‘old fellow’.
10 Chief Taurau
one of 500 Mao
signed the treat
in 1840, intende
partnership betw
and the British
postcard is date
11 This postcar
‘A Papuan Villa
signed E. S. Ha
a mother with ta
watching her ba
hammock, from
series entitled ‘
Watching’. Eve
(1866–1935) w
illustrator of ch
12 Described as
Artistic Tattooe
on Earth’, this 1
depicts Princess
was an attractio
Museum in Tro
13 A postcard w
coloured photog
Traditional Bur
c.1900–10. It is
 ‘A Japanese Hansom’ is the
title on this hand-coloured card
from 1904, from a series called
‘Ellanbee’.
A Maori Chief, 1905. The
handwriting refers to him as an
‘old fellow’.
Chief Taurau Kukupa was
one of 500 Maori Chiefs who
signed the treaty of Waitangi
in 1840, intended to create a
partnership between the Maori
and the British Crown. This
postcard is dated 1908.
This postcard is called
‘A Papuan Village’ and is by
signed E. S. Hardy. It shows
a mother with tattooed arms
watching her baby in a
hammock, from a
series entitled ‘Child-
Watching’. Evelyn Stuart Hardy
(1866–1935) was a prolific
illustrator of children’s books.
Described as ‘The Most
Artistic Tattooed Beauty
on Earth’, this 1905 postcard
depicts Princess Cristina, who
was an attraction at Pickard’s
Museum in Trongate, Glasgow.
A postcard with a hand-
coloured photograph of
Traditional Burmese tattooing
.1900–10. It is interesting
Hansom’ is the
nd-coloured card
m a series called

ef, 1905. The

fers to him as an

u Kukupa was
ori Chiefs who
ty of Waitangi
ed to create a
ween the Maori
Crown. This

age’ and is by
ardy. It shows
attooed arms

elyn Stuart Hardy

hildren’s books.

1905 postcard
s Cristina, who
on at Pickard’s
ongate, Glasgow.

rmese tattooing
193
1 Maori Chief.
of striking
were very popu
from New Zeal
1900s to 1930s.
identified, but i
to note that his
incomplete.
2 This beautifu
card from the 1
Kathryn Rabann
Dean Dennis an
(1932–2001), U
3 This card from
1913, makes pla
‘tattoo’: the you
 Maori Chief. Such images
of striking moko facial tattoos
were very popular on postcards
from New Zealand in the
1900s to 1930s. The chief is not
identified, but it is interesting
to note that his moko is
incomplete.
This beautiful hand-tinted
card from the 1980s shows
Kathryn Rabanne, tattooed by
Dean Dennis and Cliff Raven
(1932–2001), USA.
This card from New York,
1913, makes play of the word
‘tattoo’: the young soldier
performs a military tattoo
whilst his sweetheart pricks a
tattoo heart into his arm.
4 Souvenir card for Capt.
Don Leslie (1937–2007) at
Fisherman’s Wharf, San
Francisco, USA. Leslie was an
American musician, sword-
swallower, tattooed attraction
and fire-eater. A biography of
his extraordinary life, Capt. Don
Leslie Sword Swallower – Circus
Sideshow Attraction (2007), was
written by Madame Chinchilla
and is published in the USA.
 performs a military tattoo
facial tattoos whilst his sweetheart pricks a
ar on postcards tattoo heart into his arm.
4 Souvenir card for Capt.
The chief is not Don Leslie (1937–2007) at
is interesting Fisherman’s Wharf, San
Francisco, USA. Leslie was an
American musician, sword-
swallower, tattooed attraction
and fire-eater. A biography of
ne, tattooed by his extraordinary life, Capt. Don
d Cliff Raven Leslie Sword Swallower – Circus
Sideshow Attraction (2007), was
written by Madame Chinchilla
ay of the word and is published in the USA.
194
5 ‘Thoroughbre
Patriotic postca
the ‘British bull
served as refere
c.1900-20.
6 The Girl Who
Turning
was a play that
of a series of pl
‘The Bad Girl D
This advertising
the play is from
adaptation.
7 Guide Eileen,
to 1930s. Eileen
chin
Maori garb, wa
Whakarewarew
Zealand.
8 This card pos
1909 shows Jam
Moir (1879–193
champion boxe
served in the Ro
was tattooed, w
of the day consi
He fought his fi
9 A girl in ever
common theme
based humour i
from the 1940s
10 Japanese pos
the 1980s show
picture of a fem
 ‘Thoroughbreds Both.’
Patriotic postcards illustrating
the ‘British bulldog spirit’ often
served as reference for tattoos
.1900-20.
The Girl Who Took The Wrong
Turning by Walter Melville
was a play that formed part
of a series of plays called
‘The Bad Girl Dramas’ (1906.)
This advertising postcard for
the play is from the 1915 film
adaptation.
Guide Eileen, c.1920s
to 1930s. Eileen, with her
chin moko and traditional
Maori garb, was a guide in
Whakarewarewa forest, New
Zealand.
This card postmarked
1909 shows James ‘Gunner’
Moir (1879–1939), England’s
champion boxer. Moir had
served in the Royal Navy and
was tattooed, which the press
of the day considered an oddity.
He fought his first fight in 1903.
A girl in every port was a
common theme for naval-
based humour in postcards
from the 1940s and 1950s.
Japanese postcard from
the 1980s showing a Ukiyo-e
picture of a female receiving
ards illustrating
ldog spirit’ often
ence for tattoos

o Took The Wrong

Dramas’ (1906.)
g postcard for
m the 1915 film

wa forest, New

mes ‘Gunner’
39), England’s

oyal Navy and

which the press
idered an oddity.
irst fight in 1903.

Ukiyo-e
male receiving
195
196

1 A British patr
from the First W
showing a Wre
Women’s Roya
and union flag.
card has been a
for reference fo
patriotic or nav
designs.
2 An early twen
sepia postcard s
photograph of a
 A British patriotic postcard
from the First World War,
showing a Wren (from the
Women’s Royal Naval Service)
and union flag. This type of
card has been and still is used
for reference for traditional
patriotic or naval tattoo
designs.
An early twentieth-century
sepia postcard showing a
photograph of a Tahitian man
with extensive tattoos.
3 Published by Amber
Postcards, this illustration
is called ‘Jack’s Mark’ (Jack
Tar being an ancient term for
sailors). The card bears the
date 1900, which refers to the
illustration.
4 ‘The Burning of the Idols’
postcard from c.1920s to 1930s
shows tattooed warriors burning
idols whilst two men, likely to be
missionaries, look on.
riotic postcard with extensive tattoos.
3 Published by Amber
Postcards, this illustration
al Naval Service) is called ‘Jack’s Mark’ (Jack
. This type of Tar being an ancient term for
and still is used sailors). The card bears the
date 1900, which refers to the
illustration.
4 ‘The Burning of the Idols’
ntieth-century postcard from c.1920s to 1930s
shows tattooed warriors burning
a Tahitian man idols whilst two men, likely to be
missionaries, look on.
5 This card from Tangier,
Morocco, shows a tattooed
Bedouin woman
6 Another patriotic British
postcard from the First Wo
War used as reference for
tattoo designs.
5 This card from Tangier,
Morocco, shows a tattooed
Bedouin woman c.1930.
6 Another patriotic British
postcard from the First World
War used as reference for
tattoo designs.
1 to 8
These kinds of saucy seaside
postcards featuring tattoos
tend to be illustrated on the
theme of former lovers’ names.

2 A play on the classic chat-up

line and romantic euphemism,
‘Come up and see my
etchings,’ this card dates from
1930s to 1940s.
199
4 Probably dates c.1920s or 8 Seaside humour cards oft
earlier, judging by the male’s quite unkindly poked fun a
swimming costume. overweight people, as did
5 1930s card with another play comedians: the old line abo
on words: dogs growl and so do marrying a fat tattooed lady
empty stomachs. so you’d have warmth in th
7 This card showing a tattooist winter, shade in the summe
about to tattoo hair on a and moving pictures all yea
client, c.1920s to 1930s. The long comes to mind. In this
scene is quite prophetic as the card posted in Brighton on
tattooing of hair for cosmetic August 5th, 1913, we see a
purposes is on the increase. rather overweight tattooed
Note the humour of the sign: man with two children ‘loo
‘Tattooing while you wait’ and theat the pictures.’
ambiguous ‘at moderate charge.’
 Probably dates c.1920s or 8 Seaside humour cards often
earlier, judging by the male’s quite unkindly poked fun at
swimming costume. overweight people, as did
1930s card with another play comedians: the old line about
on words: dogs growl and so do marrying a fat tattooed lady
empty stomachs. so you’d have warmth in the
This card showing a tattooist winter, shade in the summer,
about to tattoo hair on a and moving pictures all year
client, c.1920s to 1930s. The long comes to mind. In this
scene is quite prophetic as the card posted in Brighton on
tattooing of hair for cosmetic August 5th, 1913, we see a
purposes is on the increase. rather overweight tattooed
Note the humour of the sign: man with two children ‘looking
‘Tattooing while you wait’ and theat the pictures.’
ambiguous ‘at moderate charge.’
1 Classic Bamforth Company
Ltd postcard humour, c.1930s
to 1940s: the client’s growing
paunch has caused his
tattooed destroyer to become
a dreadnought.
2 Another Bamforth postcard,
by Donald McGill, of a case
of tattoos lasting longer than
romances.
Courtesy of Bamforth &
Company.
201

3 This card from

or 1950s feature
smoking while
appearing leche
classic pin-up s
bottom right-ha
card shows the
name: Bob Wil
4 A later, more
Bamforth postc
1980s.
5 A play on wo
with a floating k
for an anchor. N
‘tatoo’ and ‘tato
spelt incorrectly
postmarked 194
6 An unusual p
a ‘Society Tato
early 1900s to 1
such as Sutherla
made it known
tattooed upper-m
upper-class clie
appears to be fr
1900s, as the ar
hand tool.
7 Many old-tim
liked a drink. T
postcard shows
consequences fo
sailor,
8 Moving tattoo
or rolling musc
 This card from the 1940s
or 1950s features a tattooist
smoking while working and
appearing lecherous to a
classic pin-up style gal. The
bottom right-hand side of the
card shows the illustrator’s
name: Bob Wilkie.
A later, more risqué,
Bamforth postcard c.1970s to
1980s.
A play on words as a sailor
with a floating kidney asks
for an anchor. Note that
‘tatoo’ and ‘tatooing’ are both
spelt incorrectly. The card is
postmarked 1946.
An unusual postcard boasting
a ‘Society Tatooist’ (sic). In the
early 1900s to 1930s, tattooists
such as Sutherland MacDonald
made it known that they
tattooed upper-middle- and
upper-class clientele. The card
appears to be from the early
1900s, as the artist is using a
hand tool.
Many old-time tattooists
liked a drink. This great
postcard shows the
consequences for an unwitting
sailor, c.1940s to 1950s.
Moving tattoos by flexing
or rolling muscles is not
 working and

style gal. The

and side of the

.1970s to

ords as a sailor

ooing’ are both

y. The card is

postcard boasting
ooist’ (sic). In the
1930s, tattooists
and MacDonald

entele. The card

rom the early
rtist is using a

or an unwitting

os by flexing
202

1 A North Ame
from the 1970s
a tattooed Rona
what appears to
for an anti-dand
2 A signed post
photograph of I
(1937–2015) by
Brian Nye. Isob
Guinness World
most-tattooed s
she travelled th
attending tattoo
and was a popu
international tat
3 A publicity ca
 A North American postcard
from the 1970s to ‘80s featuring
a tattooed Ronald Reagan with
what appears to be the slogan
for an anti-dandruff shampoo!
A signed postcard with a
photograph of Isobel Varley
(1937–2015) by tattoo artist
Brian Nye. Isobel was the
Guinness World Records’
most-tattooed senior woman:
she travelled the globe
attending tattoo conventions
and was a popular figure in the
international tattoo community.
A publicity card for Crazy
Ace (1951–2010) aka David
Daniels, for the Houston Tattoo
Convention, 1984. Crazy Ace
Daniels was a great character
within the tattoo world. He
owned and operated from
the Way Cool tattoo studio in
Ontario, Canada.
4 A card advertising tattoo
artist and tattoo historian
Lyle Tuttle’s Tattoo Rose Café,
c.1980. Tuttle amassed a huge
collection of tattoo artefacts:
most were displayed in his
tattoo museum on 7th Street,
San Francisco.
erican postcard Ace (1951–2010) aka David
to ‘80s featuring Daniels, for the Houston Tattoo
ald Reagan with Convention, 1984. Crazy Ace
o be the slogan Daniels was a great character
druff shampoo! within the tattoo world. He
owned and operated from
Isobel Varley the Way Cool tattoo studio in
y tattoo artist Ontario, Canada.
4 A card advertising tattoo
artist and tattoo historian
senior woman: Lyle Tuttle’s Tattoo Rose Café,
c.1980. Tuttle amassed a huge
o conventions collection of tattoo artefacts:
ular figure in the most were displayed in his
ttoo community. tattoo museum on 7th Street,
ard for Crazy San Francisco.
203
5 Viz comic, founded by Chris
Donald in 1979, is an adult
comic full of risqué and
scatological humour with
violent, sexual and bizarre
story lines. It is a parody of the
clean-cut children’s comics
of the 1960s onwards. Viz has
featured a host of classic
characters, the Bacons being
among them. The Bacons are
from Newcastle and speak
Geordie dialect. The illustration
shows Mutha, Fatha, the
bairn, and older son Biffa
getting tattooed. Copyright
Fulchester Industries/Denn
Publishing Ltd.
6 An iconic image from the
1980s taken by photograph
Chris Wroblewski. Wroble
produced numerous books
on tattooing and London
subcultures for over twenty
five years. This card shows
Adee, tattooed with traditio
Iban designs by the author.
 Viz comic, founded by Chris
Donald in 1979, is an adult
comic full of risqué and
scatological humour with
violent, sexual and bizarre
story lines. It is a parody of the
clean-cut children’s comics
of the 1960s onwards. Viz has
featured a host of classic
characters, the Bacons being
among them. The Bacons are
from Newcastle and speak
Geordie dialect. The illustration
shows Mutha, Fatha, the
bairn, and older son Biffa
getting tattooed. Copyright ©
Fulchester Industries/Dennis
Publishing Ltd.
6 An iconic image from the
1980s taken by photographer
Chris Wroblewski. Wroblewski
produced numerous books
on tattooing and London
subcultures for over twenty-
five years. This card shows
Adee, tattooed with traditional
Iban designs by the author.
INSET Video cover for the 1986
Tattoo Expo held at London’s
Hammersmith Palais, showing
the co-organiser of the event,
Ian, of Reading, UK, tattooing
a client.
OPPOSITE PAGE A selection of
passes and tickets for various
tattoo events.
 CONVEN

Until the late 1970s,

small, informal affairs

or between artists and

But by the early 19

beginning to be held o

of the first groundbreaki

 CONVENTIONS

late 1970s, tattoo meetings were

mal affairs for clubs or societies

artists and maybe a client or two.

he early 1980s conventions were

o be held on a regular basis. One

groundbreaking events was Triple E

207

OPPOSITE PAGE
A commemorative banner with
artwork from the late Greg
Irons (1947–1984). Irons was a
tattooist, comic illustrator and
animator whose artwork took
the tattoo world by storm and
influenced numerous artists.
The banner is for the Queen
Mary Tattoo Expo 1982 held on
the famous ship RMS Queen
Mary in Long Beach, USA.
TOP LEFT State of the Art tat
show with guidebook cover
by Vince Ray, 2001, Derby
TOP RIGHT Laminated pass f
the Richmond tattoo show,
USA.
BOTTOM LEFT Laminate pass
for Salt Lake City tattoo sh
USA, 2008.
BOTTOM RIGHT The 1986
London Tattoo Expo guide
cover photograph by Chris
Wroblewski.
TOP LEFT State of the Art tattoo
show with guidebook cover art
by Vince Ray, 2001, Derby UK.
TOP RIGHT Laminated pass for
the Richmond tattoo show,
USA.
BOTTOM LEFT Laminate pass
for Salt Lake City tattoo show,
USA, 2008.
BOTTOM RIGHT The 1986
London Tattoo Expo guide with
cover photograph by Chris
Wroblewski.
RIGHT A selection of programs
and posters for international
tattoo events.
BELOW Pass for the Tattoo
Club of Great Britain show,
1980. These shows were held
annually in hotels around
the UK. When they started,
mainly artists and a few clients
attended, but they went on
to become larger events that
opened to the public.
208
Full-colour guidebook for t
Great British Tattoo show 2
held at Alexandra Palace,
London.
Full-colour guidebook for the
Great British Tattoo show 2013,
held at Alexandra Palace,
London.
Carnival-inspired artwork on
the front of the brochure for
the Salt Lake City tattoo show,
USA, 2008.
211
TOP LEFT, BOTTOM LEFT &
BOTTOM RIGHT Brochures for
one of the world’s largest
tattoo gatherings held annu
at the historic Tobacco Doc
the London Tattoo Conven
This event attracts thousand
of visitors and a host of the
world’s leading tattoo artist
TOP RIGHT Poster for the
Mantra Festival held in 200
Cheltenham Racecourse, U
Many race tracks have open
up their corporate venues fo
tattoo shows.
TOP LEFT, BOTTOM LEFT &
BOTTOM RIGHT Brochures for
one of the world’s largest
tattoo gatherings held annually
at the historic Tobacco Dock,
the London Tattoo Convention.
This event attracts thousands
of visitors and a host of the
world’s leading tattoo artists.
TOP RIGHT Poster for the
Mantra Festival held in 2003 at
Cheltenham Racecourse, UK.
Many race tracks have opened
up their corporate venues for
tattoo shows.
A selection of passes and
tickets for tattoo events.
LEFT Security wristbands fo
visiting various tattoo show
LEFT Security wristbands for
visiting various tattoo shows.
INSET & OPPOSITE PAGE
Postcard-size business cards
from the early 1980s. The fronts
of the cards are illustrated by
Kevin Birch in the style of 1950s
erotica.
 BUSINES

While they still occupy

tattoo culture, the hum

the mainstay of tattoo

Internet and social me

would often list the n

could provide or how m

 BUSINESS CARDS

still occupy an important place in

re, the humble business card was

y of tattoo advertising before the

d social media. A tattooist’s card

list the number of colours they

de or how many designs the studio

216

1 & 2 Norman Keith Collins

(1911–1973) aka Sailor Jerry
Collins’ business cards from
Honolulu, Hawaii. The card on
the left is overprinted onto a
florist’s card and was aimed
at a female clientele: hence
‘feminigraphics.’
3 Godfrey Baker aka ‘Painless’
Jeff was renowned for his
sense of humour and quick wit
of which this card is a perfect
illustration: ‘The poor man’s
Rembrandt’, ‘Ex-bird’s names’,
‘Done it meself.’
4 This card for Dave Heap in
Lancashire, UK, dates from the
1970s or possibly older. There
is no phone number, which in
today’s age seems strange, but
was not unusual for that era.
5 Australian card from the
1970s. Apart from tattooing,
the artists offered home-
made tattoo removal. In
this era, there was no laser
removal. The painful but often
successful method instead
consisted of tattooing tannic
acid into the skin, rubbing the
area with a silver nitrate pencil,
and covering it with zinc oxide
plaster. The plaster was left on
for two weeks, in which time
6 Many British tattoo studi
in the 1950s to 1980s used
advertise their use of Amer
colours and equipment.
Although this was true in
many cases, it was also aim
at impressing clients and
throwing would-be tattoois
off the scent of finding UK
based suppliers.
7 Greg Irons’ illustrated
card from 1982, when he
was working at the famous
Goldfield’s Tattoo Studio i
Francisco, owned by Henry
Goldfield since 1977.
8 Traditional Tebori
tattooing is illustrated on th
card from Japan.
6 Many British tattoo studios
in the 1950s to 1980s used to
advertise their use of American
colours and equipment.
Although this was true in
many cases, it was also aimed
at impressing clients and
throwing would-be tattooists
off the scent of finding UK-
based suppliers.
7 Greg Irons’ illustrated
card from 1982, when he
was working at the famous
Goldfield’s Tattoo Studio in San
Francisco, owned by Henry
Goldfield since 1977.
8 Traditional Tebori-style
tattooing is illustrated on this
card from Japan.
217

9 Les Skuse Jnr aka Danny

Skuse was the son of famed
Bristol tattoo artist Les Skuse.
On this card from the 1970s to
1980s he refers to himself as a
dermographic artist.
10 This card is from Tel Aviv,
a place not often associated
with tattooing. David Mosko
was well-travelled and known
throughout the tattoo world
from the 1970s. The card shows
special rates offered for UN
(United Nations), USN (United
States Navy) and UNIFIL
(United Nations Interim Force
In Lebanon), dating the card
around 1978.
11 Janet Field aka Rusty Skuse
(1943–2007) was married to
Bill Skuse, son of Les Skuse
and brother to Danny Skuse.
Bill and Rusty operated a
tattoo studio in Aldershot, UK,
a military town. In 1970, Rusty
was acknowledged by the
Guinness Book of Records as
Britain’s most tattooed lady,
when heavily tattooed women
were still a rarity. Rusty moved
to Great Hockham, a Norfolk
village, where she still tattooed
until she died.
12 Don Ed Hardy’s card, signed
1950s and was regarded as
of the finest tattooists of his
generation.
14 Ben Gunn operated his
studio from a purpose-built
room in his house. He wou
keep punters entertained
with stories and jokes. Onc
whilst I was being tattooed
by Gunn, he said ‘My mate
got burnt.’ ‘Badly?’ I replie
‘They don’t fuck about at
the crematorium,’ was his
response. To be tattooed by
Gunn you had to wait at a
bus stop opposite his house
queuing with any other
punters. At 11 a.m. he wou
open his door and everyone
would run across the road,
with only the first ten clien
being admitted. Gunn’s old
house recently went up for
and the estate agents used h
fame as a selling point.
15 Tattoo Stan aka Stan Da
produced this unusual, larg
card that opened into a boo
in 1970. It features informa
on his studio in Walsall, UK
and photographs of his clie
16 A card from the British
seaside town of Southend-
On-Sea, where tattooing ha
1950s and was regarded as one
of the finest tattooists of his
generation.
14 Ben Gunn operated his
studio from a purpose-built
room in his house. He would
keep punters entertained
with stories and jokes. Once,
whilst I was being tattooed
by Gunn, he said ‘My mate
got burnt.’ ‘Badly?’ I replied.
‘They don’t fuck about at
the crematorium,’ was his
response. To be tattooed by
Gunn you had to wait at a
bus stop opposite his house,
queuing with any other
punters. At 11 a.m. he would
open his door and everyone
would run across the road,
with only the first ten clients
being admitted. Gunn’s old
house recently went up for sale
and the estate agents used his
fame as a selling point.
15 Tattoo Stan aka Stan Davis
produced this unusual, large
card that opened into a booklet
in 1970. It features information
on his studio in Walsall, UK
and photographs of his clients.
16 A card from the British
seaside town of Southend-
On-Sea, where tattooing has
218

TOP LEFT & RIGHT Entertaining

cards from Mexico: by crooking
the index finger (as pictured
below) and placing the card’s
strategically placed cut-out
over its crease, an innocent
design becomes risqué.

BOTTOM LEFT & RIGHT With its

strong early connections to
punk rock, this card for the
author’s London studio, New
Wave Tattoo, drew inspiration
from the infamous Never Mind
The Bollocks (1977) Sex Pistols
album cover designed by
Jamie Reid.
FAR RIGHT A Kandi Everett
of Honolulu card from 1981,
showing a customer’s face
219
The top two cards are from
the legendary Ricky tattoo
studio in Hong Kong. Rick
and fellow tattooist Pinky Y
were tattooists from China
The top two cards are from
the legendary Ricky tattoo
studio in Hong Kong. Ricky
and fellow tattooist Pinky Yun
were tattooists from China who
INSET A great example of
traditional tattoo flash with
a classic mother sentiment.
Back in the day, there was a
common belief that if your first
tattoo was dedicated to your
mum or mother, she wouldn’t
be angry with you for getting
tattooed! There may be an
element of truth in this. Many
old-school tattooers would
never miss an opportunity
to entice a client under the
needle.
OPPOSITE PAGE A selection of
traditional tattoo designs. All
old-time studios would have
carried flash such as these.
Some would be hand-painted
by the owner or studio artists,
and others bought in or
exchanged with other artists.
Flash (always singular),

are terms for the artw

Traditionally, sheets of

hand-drawn and painted,

walls or displayed in

would browse to pick

 FLASH

s singular), show cards and designs

for the artwork used in tattooing.

sheets of tattoo flash would be

and painted, then hung on studio

displayed in books, which clients

se to pick the designs for their

222

These designs from the 1950s

are by P. Holzhaus of Hamburg,
Germany.

RIGHT Designs depicting

traditional tattoo motifs of love,
luck and swallows.
BELOW RIGHT Great examples
of the traditional type of sailing
ship design found in so many
seaport tattoo studios around
the world.
BELOW A beautiful back piece
Hannya mask (from traditional
Japanese Noh and Bunraku
theatre) by Jason Saga
(1970–2008). Jason was one
of the greatest exponents of
Japanese-style tattooing of
his day.
223

RIGHT This sheet of designs

was displayed on the walls of
Tattoo Jocks in King’s Cross,
London, for many years. Each
design has been cut out and
stuck to a board which was
then covered by plastic film to
protect it. The designs may be
by Pete Tracey of Stanmore,
who was a great friend of
Jock’s.
BELOW RIGHT This sheet of flash
from the 1980s was hand drawn
and coloured by Michelle Attard
aka Miss Behave. The designs
were greatly influenced by the
art of Mike Malone (1942–2007)
aka Mr Flash, aka Roll. Malone
was a great tattooist who
sold his flash sheets with the
slogan ‘the flash that makes
you cash’. Malone’s designs
were uncomplicated, bold
and eyecatching, and for a
professional quick and easy to
tattoo — an essential in a busy
street shop of the era.
BELOW & ON PAGE 238
designs featuring song lyric
were drawn by the author a
the death of his daughter in
2014. They were sold at au
to help raise funds for the
mental health charity MIND
via the Tattoo the Taboo gr
BELOW & ON PAGE 238 These
designs featuring song lyrics
were drawn by the author after
the death of his daughter in
2014. They were sold at auction
to help raise funds for the
mental health charity MIND,
via the Tattoo the Taboo group.
These two pieces of flash a
very rare examples of Briti
prison tattoo art. From the
early 1980s, they use ink, f
tips and coloured pencils on
paper. They were drawn an
sent to the author by his fri
and fellow tattoo artist Mar
Cornwell.
These two pieces of flash are
very rare examples of British
prison tattoo art. From the
early 1980s, they use ink, felt
tips and coloured pencils on
paper. They were drawn and
sent to the author by his friend
and fellow tattoo artist Mark
Cornwell.
This nicotine-stained sheet
is from Cash Cooper’s studio
This sheet hung in a studio
Domestic Street, Leeds, UK
This sheet hung in a studio in
Domestic Street, Leeds, UK in
228

RIGHT A beautiful sheet of hand-

painted tattoo flash by Charles
‘Cash’ Cooper, who tattooed in
various locations in London and
Manchester between the 1960s
and 1980s.
BELOW RIGHT A hand-painted
tattoo flash sheet by Doc Price
of Plymouth, UK. Doc started
tattooing in 1954 and still tattoos
to this day, alongside his son
Bill. Their studio in Union
Street, Plymouth is the oldest
in the region. As well as being
a tattooist, Doc is a bladesmith
(sword and knife maker) and
also makes tattoo machines.
BELOW This raunchy design
from the 1970s combines
two iconic tattoo themes: the
crawling black panther and the
buxom pin-up girl. Drawn by
Raye Collinson, Bournemouth,
UK.
229
An A3-sized Japanese-
influenced design drawn by
the author in pen and colou
pencils in 1984. The 1980s
saw Japanese-style tattoo
designs become very popul
throughout the UK and mu
of Europe. Much of this wa
down to the likes of Mitsua
Ohwada of the Japan Tatto
Club and Kazou Oguri-Hor
of the Japan Association of
Tattoo Artists and Fans, wh
published a newsletter full
of illustrations and photos t
which many Western tattoo
artists subscribed. In the US
Ed Hardy was creating larg
scale Japanese work, while
George Bone, Dennis Cock
and Phil Bond pioneered th
style in the UK.
An A3-sized Japanese-
influenced design drawn by
the author in pen and coloured
pencils in 1984. The 1980s
saw Japanese-style tattoo
designs become very popular
throughout the UK and much
of Europe. Much of this was
down to the likes of Mitsuaki
Ohwada of the Japan Tattoo
Club and Kazou Oguri-Horihide
of the Japan Association of
Tattoo Artists and Fans, which
published a newsletter full
of illustrations and photos to
which many Western tattoo
artists subscribed. In the USA,
Ed Hardy was creating large-
scale Japanese work, while
George Bone, Dennis Cockell
and Phil Bond pioneered this
style in the UK.
230

TOP LEFT A hand-drawn design

on tracing paper drawn by
Des Connolly of Australia. This
was sent to the author in the
early days of his tattooing,
c.1979. Des would send
instructions on how he created
traditional-style work in his
correspondence.
TOP RIGHT A patriotic design
dated 1988 but lacking an
artist’s signature.
BOTTOM LEFT A mummy
design by Michelle Attard
aka Miss Behave, c.1984.
Most studios in the UK at
this time operated a walk-in
service by which people did
not need appointments – the
appointment only for this A4
size design indicates it would
have taken some time to
execute and so would have to
be scheduled when the studio
was quiet.
BOTTOM RIGHT Sketches by Roy
Proudlove, Crewe, UK, c.1983.
OPPOSITE PAGE The original
sketch for a punk-rock girl
tattooed on the author by D
Ed Hardy at Dennis Cockel
studio, Finchley Road, date
10th June 1981.
OPPOSITE PAGE The original
sketch for a punk-rock girl
tattooed on the author by Don
Ed Hardy at Dennis Cockell’s
studio, Finchley Road, dated
10th June 1981.
INSET A membership pennant
issued by Bristol Tattoo Club.
OPPOSITE PAGE A fan hand-
decorated with Japanese-style
severed head designs by Alex
Reinke of Holy Fox Tattoos,
London.
 MISCELL

In researching items for

I viewed literally thous

from my own archives

large and small. My phot

Sandro Hyams, shot over

confined spaces and und

 MISCELLANEOUS

ng items for inclusion in this book,

terally thousands of tattoo artefacts

wn archives and in collections both

mall. My photographer on this project,

ms, shot over 3,000 images, often in

ces and under pressure of time. We

234

RIGHT Tools of the trade: a

porcelain inkwell and packet
of loose sharps (needles) in
the foreground, an old Vaseline
tin, stencil and coil tattoo
machine in the background.
Before the advent of disposable
ink caps and greater hygienic
awareness, many artists used
porcelain inkwells or dishes
to keep ink that was often
used on multiple clients.
Needles, known in the trade
as sharps, used to be sold
loose in packets. The sharps
would then be soldered or tied
into groupings which would
be attached to a needle bar
that ran through the tattoo
machines. Different groupings
of needles were used for lining
and shading. Vaseline was
used during the tattoo process
to keep the skin workable,
as well as for applying
traditional acetate stencils
and being applied as a balm
once the tattoo procedure was
complete.
FAR RIGHT A beautiful ornate
footswitch with religious
decoration made by Tattoo
Gert, Belgium. Foot switches
are used to turn the tattoo
British prison tattoo art on
envelopes sent to the author
in 1985.
237

ABOVE Beautiful artwork from

Horiyoshi 111 studio, Yokohama,
Japan. These cotton prints are
almost a metre wide. Horiyoshi
often gave these as gifts to
clients and artists. Many tattoo
artists display them in their
studio decor.
FAR RIGHT A Kleenex advert
from 1946. It is a coincidence
that the advert features a
tattooist, as many tattooist use
Acknowledgements
In compiling this book I am
indebted to many people. I am
so grateful to them all.
I would like to firstly thank
my fellow collectors, Naresh
Bhana, Marc Nutley, Greg
Ardron, Willie Robinson and
Jon Meiling, for allowing me
access to view and document
their fascinating tattoo
collections.
The majority of the
photographs in this volume
were taken by my good friend
Sandro Hyams (www.sandro-
hyams.com), who approached
all shoots with great
enthusiasm and bad jokes.
Dr Matt Lodder for his
insightful foreword and
support. My fellow tattooist
and collector, Rhys Gordon
of Sydney, arranged the
Australian connection.
The Australian photos were
taken by Emma Salmon
(www.theblacklight.com.au).
Anthony Bennett for his
wonderful great Omi sculpture
and Michael Forbes, whose
paintings I love. Jimmie Skuse
of the Bristol Tattoo Club and
Cornwell and Calypso Saga-
Moore for permission to use
their artworks.
At Robinson, Duncan Proudfoot
for his support. Andrew Barron
for his amazing skills in
designing this volume and
Charlie Mounter for giving me
the big push I needed make
this book a reality.
Lastly to my ever patient and
supportive partner Shazza,
aka The Peckham Ninja.
I once again thank you all.
Every effort has been made
to trace and contact copyright
holders. If there are any
inadvertent omissions we
apologise to those concerned,
and ask that you contact us
so that we can correct any
oversight as soon as possible.
aga-
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