Customer Reviews

The Tattoo History Source Book

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Were you a fan of tattoing who had been stranded on that proverbial desert isle and allowed only half dozen favorite musical discs and but one or two books, it's a good bet that you would want Steve Gilbert's "Tattoo History: A Source Book" to keep you company.

A somewhat uneven quality of writing and of academic documentation mark this book. Even so, "Tattoo History: A Source Book" is an impressive work that reflects serious research, and it is a tour de force in comfortably handling material that ranges widely over time and space. On a subject that is so often dominated by photographs and essays that emphasize above all Japanese-style tattooing, it is a delight to learn as well of the long tradition of tattooing in the Pacific Isles, of the role tattoos played in the ancient Middle East, and of early 20th-century tattooing in the West. Gilbert's extensive use of source material--efectively translated from many languages--lends the book its gravitas and contributes significantly to his success in instilling in the reader an increased sense of respect for the tattoo arts.

Finally I should note that even if this book did not open new vistas for the reader, the essays which bookend "Tattoo History" would alone be worth the price of admission. Gilbert's opener, "Confessions of a Tattoo Addict," although but two pages in length, is an evocative essay that relates a fascination with tattoos to his coming of age in the 1940s. Meanwhile, the lengthier closing essay by Don Ed Hardy documents the resurgence of tattooing over the past several decades, the cultural cross-fertilization that has occurred, and the slow but growing acceptance of tattooing as a legitimate art form by the more conventional arts world.

Not just a compendium of illustrations, this collection of essays, interviews, historical accounts and yes, some nice pictures, pulls together a great deal of the cultural history and tradition associated with tattooing. Well written, very wide-reaching and very entertaining. Gilbert is careful to detail where all his information comes from, adding to the work's authority and allowing interested readers to look more deeply into specific topics. This is a winner.

While I can not even come close to the great review that the previous reviewer wrote, I can in fact tell you that this is one of the most interesting books that I have read on the history of tattoos. I myself have 3 tattoos and since I got them, I have been enthralled with the history that surrounds them as well as trying to figure out where the stigma that is currently attached to them came from. I sat down to just leaf through this book and I had to read the entire thing, it was so completely interesting. If you have any interest in tattooing at all, this is a must read!

Tattoo enthusiasts will know Steve Gilbert's "Tattoo History Source Book" from Tattoos.com.

Now the online version is available in print, with some additional information and photographs, published by Juno Books, a company founded by one of the former owners that gave us all the fantastic "ReSearch" publications. (Make sure you don't miss out on their "Modern Primitives"!)

Gilbert's book is unique and absolutely fantastic, the most in-depth book I have ever seen on the history of tattooing. It covers an incredible amount of historical and geographical aspects of tattooing (from New Zealand to Siberia and almost anywhere in between; though, unfortunately, the African Continent is completely left out).

Here are some of the chapters you'll find: - Origins - Discovery - Islands in the Pacific - Worlds Old & New (North America; South America; England, etc.) - Other Worlds (The Circus; Arabs, Jews & Christians; etc.) - Contemporary Contributions

At the very end of the book you'll find a recent interview with tattoo researcher Tricia Allen and an article entitled "Current Events" by none other than Don Ed Hardy, who has done so much for the development of tattooing over the past decades. (Don't miss out on his publications through his company Hardy Marks; incl. all the "Tattootime" issues.)

If you're interested in historical aspects of tattooing, this is the source book for you.

I had been struggling to find a book which would provide both images of the beauty of historical tattooing but also give the insights and historical context for the art. This book is amazing. Gilbert uses many historical excerpts from early explorers and early tattoo artists which make for an informative and interesting read. I highly, highly recommend this book.

I purchased this book as a Christmas gift for my father, who has recently come to appreciate the art of tattoos. He absolutely loves it! This is the perfect gift for a tattoo aficionado. The book is a well written, well researched, and extensively illustrated catalog of the history and evolution of the art form.

I have been zooming through this book and can't seem to put it down. It goes in great depth of the history of tattoos and has enlightened me incredibly. Anybody interested in the subject should read this book. Numerous photos, as well for those of you who like visuals.

Awesome book, very informative and nice photos. I used this book to do a research project in college and have kept it ever since

This book was a great help in writing an essay for college, I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in the history of tattoos.