Tattoos have gone from badges of rebellion to fashion statements fully absorbed into mainstream culture. They are enjoying a renaissance, with graphic designers and artists creating specialty tattoos for a growing audience, unleashing a revival of interest in the bawdy vintage tattoo. Old school tattoos are being rediscovered (sometimes ironically, sometimes not) by a new generation. Originally embraced by rebels, sailors, and gangsters, these tattoos—broken hearts, naked girls, floral motifs, and maritime emblems—are now showing up on the fashion runway and in music videos. This book chronicles vintage motifs in thematic chapters interspersed with profiles of influential tattoo artists and their distinctive designs: Sailor Jerry Collins, Don Ed Hardy ("the Godfather of Tattoos"), Mike "Rollo Banks" Malone, Bert Grimm, Japan’s Horiyoshi III, and Shanghai’s Pinky Yun.
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Editorial Reviews
Review
“It seems like everyone and their mother has been inked. Carol Clerk’s new tome, Vintage Tattoos, The Book of Old-School Skin Art, tracks the evolution of old-school pin-up girl pieces…as well as classic floral, nautical, death memorials and heart designs.” ~Nylon Magazine
“We’ve read our fill about tattooed circus acts and indigenous people, but we’ll always make time for the scalawags who revolutionized tattoo art. The best chapters in Carol Clerk’s Vintage Tattoos: The Book of Old-School Skin Art detail the history of nautical and patriotic tattoos and their superstitions.” ~Inked Magazine
"The lavishly displayed wealth of brightly colored old-school flash is the heart of Vintage Tattoos, and the main reason you’ll find yourself flipping through it again and again. (Clerk's) ruminations on these designs and their cryptic meanings are enlightening." ~Playboy.com
"Vintage Tattoos is as much a tat history for tat lovers as it is for anyone into pop culture and art. Gems of tattoo lore transport us to the traveling circuses of the turn of the century (which kick-started America’s tattoo fascination) and hidden backroom parlors which popped up once state governments started banning tattooing in the 1960s. It’s a history lesson worth its ink." ~ModernTonic.com
"Vintage Tattoos...is 256 pages of art and anecdotes. Salty stories of tattoo times when shotguns, not art school degrees, hung on the walls behind the parlor counter. When tattooists traveled with the circus, not metal bands. And when the art went underground because of tattoo bans." ~Needled.com
"...an entertaining and informative title that should be in every tattoo enthusiast's book collection." ~Skin Art Magazine
“Somehow quaint and sexy at once, this opus of the epidermis will stimulate smiles, winces, and perhaps more.” ~Passport Magazine
“We’ve read our fill about tattooed circus acts and indigenous people, but we’ll always make time for the scalawags who revolutionized tattoo art. The best chapters in Carol Clerk’s Vintage Tattoos: The Book of Old-School Skin Art detail the history of nautical and patriotic tattoos and their superstitions.” ~Inked Magazine
"The lavishly displayed wealth of brightly colored old-school flash is the heart of Vintage Tattoos, and the main reason you’ll find yourself flipping through it again and again. (Clerk's) ruminations on these designs and their cryptic meanings are enlightening." ~Playboy.com
"Vintage Tattoos is as much a tat history for tat lovers as it is for anyone into pop culture and art. Gems of tattoo lore transport us to the traveling circuses of the turn of the century (which kick-started America’s tattoo fascination) and hidden backroom parlors which popped up once state governments started banning tattooing in the 1960s. It’s a history lesson worth its ink." ~ModernTonic.com
"Vintage Tattoos...is 256 pages of art and anecdotes. Salty stories of tattoo times when shotguns, not art school degrees, hung on the walls behind the parlor counter. When tattooists traveled with the circus, not metal bands. And when the art went underground because of tattoo bans." ~Needled.com
"...an entertaining and informative title that should be in every tattoo enthusiast's book collection." ~Skin Art Magazine
“Somehow quaint and sexy at once, this opus of the epidermis will stimulate smiles, winces, and perhaps more.” ~Passport Magazine
About the Author
Carol Clerk is a veteran music writer and author who has written for a number of underground newspapers and ‘zines like the weekly Melody Maker.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By N. Palazzo
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Vintage Tattoos is an impressive compilation of true Americana. Exploring ink life from the carnival to the navy and throughout a century of beauty, icons, and curiosity, Carol Clerk brings an unbiased voyage of truly personal art and obsession.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By Bombina
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
There is no shortage of tattoo books coming out these days.I liked this one because it dealt with old school flash which is my preference.A lot of interesting information and well illustrated.Quite a bit on George Burchett and his work which I found especially good.
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By Buster Paris
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is a great book. It's that simple. If you're at all interested in classic or vintage tattoos then let this be your first book on the subject, or if you have other tattoo topic books, then you need to add this to that collection.
I was interested in a book on old school or vintage tattoos. My main purpose was to learn a little bit more about Sailor Jerry Collins and his influences. I thought maybe there would be some other interesting tidbits of information on the history of what we now consider "vintage tattoos" and maybe some cool pictures - what I got was an amazing surprise.
There is so much fantastic and detailed information - none of it boring. The book takes you on an incredible journey through time, style, artists and even equipment.
Even if you don't know how to read, the pictures and old flash of these vintage tattoos are worth the price of admission ... ok, the price of the book, but you get the point.
Whether you're looking for tattoo ideas, a tattoo history lesson or want to have a unique perspective on vintage tattoos - this is a must add to your bookshelf.
I was interested in a book on old school or vintage tattoos. My main purpose was to learn a little bit more about Sailor Jerry Collins and his influences. I thought maybe there would be some other interesting tidbits of information on the history of what we now consider "vintage tattoos" and maybe some cool pictures - what I got was an amazing surprise.
There is so much fantastic and detailed information - none of it boring. The book takes you on an incredible journey through time, style, artists and even equipment.
Even if you don't know how to read, the pictures and old flash of these vintage tattoos are worth the price of admission ... ok, the price of the book, but you get the point.
Whether you're looking for tattoo ideas, a tattoo history lesson or want to have a unique perspective on vintage tattoos - this is a must add to your bookshelf.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
An over all win
The item is exactly as described, a very fun flash tattoo reference with a little background. I would have like to see a little more world variety, but an overall win. Read more
Published 26 days ago by Taylor
5.0 out of 5 stars
Bought it for my Boyfriend
This was a anniversary gift for my boyfriend. He loved it. I love it. Great quality book and super fast shipping. All round great
Published 1 month ago by UlyanaB
5.0 out of 5 stars
Awesome Buy
Tons of oldschool flash art to look at and a history of the tattoos. Love the vintage feel to the book.
Published 2 months ago by Candice
5.0 out of 5 stars
Gift
I gave this to my husband for his birthday. He likes to look through it so I'm assuming it is good =)
Published 3 months ago by M. S. Respeliers
3.0 out of 5 stars
Good book with some misgivings
The information provided is a really fun read, but other reviews are correct in that it doesn't have completely accurate depictions of the artist's flash. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Cody R.
5.0 out of 5 stars
The gift was very well received!
I got this for my granddaughter who is getting back into tattoo work.
She was really thrilled.
I wanted her to have examples of work outside of what she had done in the... Read more
She was really thrilled.
I wanted her to have examples of work outside of what she had done in the... Read more
Published 8 months ago by George
2.0 out of 5 stars
Good coverage, lousy style, kind of disappointed
This is an ok book which does contain some impressive artwork. However, it contains of a lot of rather lousy artwork as well, and little of great interest in the text which is not... Read more
Published 8 months ago by jdichter
1.0 out of 5 stars
un-impressed
the cover looks awesome, but this book is full of crude doodlings. i thought it would have lots of old school flash- and it does have some but most is scary looking. Read more
Published 16 months ago by cjm
5.0 out of 5 stars
Everything I Expected
Spectacular book covering true Americana, complete with hundreds of tattoo ideas, as well as high quality flash. Read more
Published 17 months ago by D. Hicks
5.0 out of 5 stars
thumbs up!
Great book for learning about some basic tattoo history, traditional flash art, and tattoo artists. Almost every page has a picture on it and there are good descriptions on... Read more
Published 19 months ago by ALM
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