Burnside Rare Books

[Tattoo Flash Art] 1970s sample book with approximately 200 designs for tattoos

Sujohn, Al; Berg, Mike (?)

San Rafael? None, 1970s.

A sample book of approximately 200 tattoo designs in various sizes, mounted on thin cardboard in a 12¾ x 11¾" maroon binder, held in place by loose mylar overlays. Very Good with some stickers on cover (one more recent) and tape. Appears to be a reference book for Colorful Al's House of Tattoo in San Rafael, California. Its founder "Colorful Al" died in 2009 in an accidental gas line explosion; some individual sample sheets from his estate have appeared for sale online since, and the work herein seems very similar to them. There is only a single reference to "Colorful Al's" (and no other parlor or artist's name) inside.

Features skull designs, grim reapers, Asian dragons, naked ladies, topless Native American princesses, eagles, naval-themed designs, cartoon characters like Betty Boop and a duck somewhere between Donald Duck and Woody Woodpecker, animals, devils, flowers, tigers and more. Overall the sample book looks like late '70s in origin, maybe early '80s at the very latest. A great reference capturing an unironic but modern era of tattooing and California counterculture. Item #180320001

Price: $800.00