Flash from the Past: Classic American Tattoo Designs, 1890-1965

This book is smaller than you might think - 8.25"x5.25" - given the amount of material it covers. 107 pages of hearts, flowers, insects, animals, snakes, dragons, fish, men, women, deivils, angels, skulls, daggers, boats, cars, flags, scrolls, ropes, chains, dice, playing cards, cocktail glasses, religious symbols, cartoon figures, military insignia, and fantasy scenes. Traditional designs include the "Rose of No Man's Land," "Miss Liberty" "Paraoh's Horses" "Homeward Bound," "Death Before Dishonor," and "Rock of Ages." One regret is that the designs are all small, because many of them are beautiful. Quite a few designs are also so "naively" drawn they draw laughs. It is easy to quickly find something you'd want somewhere on your body. The introduction provides a brief history of tattooing and tattoo artists between 1890 and 1965, giving old school tattooers, often itinerants and even sometimes circus workers, recognition for propagating tattoo tradition.

This book is amazing. As an artist and graphic designer; I find the old school style of tattooing both appealing and visually interesting from a historical perspective. The media would have the public believe that tattooing has sprung up among celebrities, models and the young as some passing fad, this is not true. For true tattoo fans and tattoo artists this is the must have book. This book gives a rich history of the art of tattooing with a wide variey of 'old school masters' flash work. The flash in this book has been carefully selected and I did not see a design that did not appeal to me on some level. This is by far one of the best books on old school tattoo art. If you can get your hands on this book-Buy it!