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 Customer Reviews
Russian Criminal Tattoo Encyclopaedia., 26 May 2005
This is truly one of those life changing books. It is surreal, vulgar, explicit and tender in equal measure. I have an interest in tattooing but my wife does not and she was as taken by the Alice in Wonderland otherness of this book as I was. Everything you have never nor will ever need to know about the Russian criminal underground and it's bizarrely profane tattoo culture.
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Tattoos
Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
*Best price found from Amazon Marketplace seller
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*Amazon: £5.33
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Customer Reviews
Russian Criminal Tattoo Encyclopaedia., 26 May 2005
This is truly one of those life changing books. It is surreal, vulgar, explicit and tender in equal measure. I have an interest in tattooing but my wife does not and she was as taken by the Alice in Wonderland otherness of this book as I was. Everything you have never nor will ever need to know about the Russian criminal underground and it's bizarrely profane tattoo culture.
The american Vince Ray! , 27 Sep 2007
This book is a must for any fans of Tattoos and Vince Ray! highly recommended! Great art work, great colours and great ideas!
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Customer Reviews
Russian Criminal Tattoo Encyclopaedia., 26 May 2005
This is truly one of those life changing books. It is surreal, vulgar, explicit and tender in equal measure. I have an interest in tattooing but my wife does not and she was as taken by the Alice in Wonderland otherness of this book as I was. Everything you have never nor will ever need to know about the Russian criminal underground and it's bizarrely profane tattoo culture.
The american Vince Ray! , 27 Sep 2007
This book is a must for any fans of Tattoos and Vince Ray! highly recommended! Great art work, great colours and great ideas!
Bushido: Legacies Of The Japanese Tattoo, 13 Jan 2008
This was a fantastic book, with some very interesting viewpoints and information. I found the relationship between the samurai honour system and traditional japanese tattooing particularly intreguing, and the photography and sketches provided a great insight to the visual elements described in this book. Highly recommended for anyone wanting to know a bit more!
Stunning, 08 Jul 2007
An excellent resource, full of the very best, older-style Japanese tattoos. Loads of colour photographs, excellent, informative texts.
Bushido Legacies Of The Japanese Tattoo, 11 Aug 2002
An all round excellent book with many fine pictures, and lots of interesting and well wrote information on the history and origins of janpanese tattooing. Well worth the asking price.
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Customer Reviews
Russian Criminal Tattoo Encyclopaedia., 26 May 2005
This is truly one of those life changing books. It is surreal, vulgar, explicit and tender in equal measure. I have an interest in tattooing but my wife does not and she was as taken by the Alice in Wonderland otherness of this book as I was. Everything you have never nor will ever need to know about the Russian criminal underground and it's bizarrely profane tattoo culture.
The american Vince Ray! , 27 Sep 2007
This book is a must for any fans of Tattoos and Vince Ray! highly recommended! Great art work, great colours and great ideas!
Bushido: Legacies Of The Japanese Tattoo, 13 Jan 2008
This was a fantastic book, with some very interesting viewpoints and information. I found the relationship between the samurai honour system and traditional japanese tattooing particularly intreguing, and the photography and sketches provided a great insight to the visual elements described in this book. Highly recommended for anyone wanting to know a bit more!
Stunning, 08 Jul 2007
An excellent resource, full of the very best, older-style Japanese tattoos. Loads of colour photographs, excellent, informative texts.
Bushido Legacies Of The Japanese Tattoo, 11 Aug 2002
An all round excellent book with many fine pictures, and lots of interesting and well wrote information on the history and origins of janpanese tattooing. Well worth the asking price.
Don't Judge This Book by Its cover, 18 Dec 2007
The cover is without doubt the best thing about this book. Its like a cheap 'all about horoscopes' book that you'd get from a bargain book store for £1.99 inside - cheap paper and poor (actually very poor) illustrations. Not my idea of good tattoo book for sure and possibly quite dated. Tripe.
Make sure it's what you're after..., 06 Dec 2006
Those who criticize this book for a paucity of illustration are missing the point, I think. Rather than being a pictorial source, this book offers an interesting and frequently insightful guide to the semiotics of tattoo art.
There is plenty here to get you thinking: designs that you may never have heard of as well as new perspectives on old chestnuts. Some of the un-illustrated oddities are a little frustrating, but it's easy enough to find examples elsewhere.
Absorbing it is. A flash-book it ain't.
poor quality reference book, 10 Aug 2004
This book was really dissapointing, very few pictures and the ones that are included are cery basic.
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Tattoo Soup (Tattoos)
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Independent Music Press;
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Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
*Best price found from Amazon Marketplace seller
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*Amazon: £4.19
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Customer Reviews
Russian Criminal Tattoo Encyclopaedia., 26 May 2005
This is truly one of those life changing books. It is surreal, vulgar, explicit and tender in equal measure. I have an interest in tattooing but my wife does not and she was as taken by the Alice in Wonderland otherness of this book as I was. Everything you have never nor will ever need to know about the Russian criminal underground and it's bizarrely profane tattoo culture.
The american Vince Ray! , 27 Sep 2007
This book is a must for any fans of Tattoos and Vince Ray! highly recommended! Great art work, great colours and great ideas!
Bushido: Legacies Of The Japanese Tattoo, 13 Jan 2008
This was a fantastic book, with some very interesting viewpoints and information. I found the relationship between the samurai honour system and traditional japanese tattooing particularly intreguing, and the photography and sketches provided a great insight to the visual elements described in this book. Highly recommended for anyone wanting to know a bit more!
Stunning, 08 Jul 2007
An excellent resource, full of the very best, older-style Japanese tattoos. Loads of colour photographs, excellent, informative texts.
Bushido Legacies Of The Japanese Tattoo, 11 Aug 2002
An all round excellent book with many fine pictures, and lots of interesting and well wrote information on the history and origins of janpanese tattooing. Well worth the asking price.
Don't Judge This Book by Its cover, 18 Dec 2007
The cover is without doubt the best thing about this book. Its like a cheap 'all about horoscopes' book that you'd get from a bargain book store for £1.99 inside - cheap paper and poor (actually very poor) illustrations. Not my idea of good tattoo book for sure and possibly quite dated. Tripe.
Make sure it's what you're after..., 06 Dec 2006
Those who criticize this book for a paucity of illustration are missing the point, I think. Rather than being a pictorial source, this book offers an interesting and frequently insightful guide to the semiotics of tattoo art.
There is plenty here to get you thinking: designs that you may never have heard of as well as new perspectives on old chestnuts. Some of the un-illustrated oddities are a little frustrating, but it's easy enough to find examples elsewhere.
Absorbing it is. A flash-book it ain't.
poor quality reference book, 10 Aug 2004
This book was really dissapointing, very few pictures and the ones that are included are cery basic.
Best little book of tattoos ever., 16 Nov 2008
Great wee book, some awesome tattoos. A truly random selection from around the Globe. Great little stocking filler. GO BUY IT NOW.
Great variety, 15 Nov 2008
Being a fan or ink art this book allowed me to see some really wonderful designs from around the world. A clearly thought out labour of love showing peoples 'pride and joys'. A great book for the collector of tattoo books as well as ink on their skins
Buy a piece of book and tattoo history...!, 14 Nov 2008
I was lucky enough to receive a free copy of this book for being involved. And I am so grateful (although I would have bought it anyway!). It's a great book to have in your collection.
Just as the description says, this book really is the first of it's kind.
And hopefully it will be the first of many!
The best thing about this book is the fact that people from all over the world could contribute and feel part of a global project.
As I collector of tattoos myself, I always love having a nose at other peoples tattoos and this book allows you to do just that - - some you will love, some you will hate - but all of them mean something to someone.
It's also great value for money!
What a great buy this was..., 14 Nov 2008
I'd def recommend this book.
I came across it on myspace and coming from someone who doesn't have tattoos, but is always umming and ahhing I was hooked from page 1. I love the fact that a lot of the images are clearly just taken by the person with the tattoo in their room or wherever, it gives them a much more personal feel.
If I do ever take the jump and get a tattoo, it'll be from one of the tattooists in here.
Treat yourself, get a copy!
I love this book!, 14 Nov 2008
I love this book.
Never get bored of it.
These people have the skills to pay my bills.
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Customer Reviews
Russian Criminal Tattoo Encyclopaedia., 26 May 2005
This is truly one of those life changing books. It is surreal, vulgar, explicit and tender in equal measure. I have an interest in tattooing but my wife does not and she was as taken by the Alice in Wonderland otherness of this book as I was. Everything you have never nor will ever need to know about the Russian criminal underground and it's bizarrely profane tattoo culture.
The american Vince Ray! , 27 Sep 2007
This book is a must for any fans of Tattoos and Vince Ray! highly recommended! Great art work, great colours and great ideas!
Bushido: Legacies Of The Japanese Tattoo, 13 Jan 2008
This was a fantastic book, with some very interesting viewpoints and information. I found the relationship between the samurai honour system and traditional japanese tattooing particularly intreguing, and the photography and sketches provided a great insight to the visual elements described in this book. Highly recommended for anyone wanting to know a bit more!
Stunning, 08 Jul 2007
An excellent resource, full of the very best, older-style Japanese tattoos. Loads of colour photographs, excellent, informative texts.
Bushido Legacies Of The Japanese Tattoo, 11 Aug 2002
An all round excellent book with many fine pictures, and lots of interesting and well wrote information on the history and origins of janpanese tattooing. Well worth the asking price.
Don't Judge This Book by Its cover, 18 Dec 2007
The cover is without doubt the best thing about this book. Its like a cheap 'all about horoscopes' book that you'd get from a bargain book store for £1.99 inside - cheap paper and poor (actually very poor) illustrations. Not my idea of good tattoo book for sure and possibly quite dated. Tripe.
Make sure it's what you're after..., 06 Dec 2006
Those who criticize this book for a paucity of illustration are missing the point, I think. Rather than being a pictorial source, this book offers an interesting and frequently insightful guide to the semiotics of tattoo art.
There is plenty here to get you thinking: designs that you may never have heard of as well as new perspectives on old chestnuts. Some of the un-illustrated oddities are a little frustrating, but it's easy enough to find examples elsewhere.
Absorbing it is. A flash-book it ain't.
poor quality reference book, 10 Aug 2004
This book was really dissapointing, very few pictures and the ones that are included are cery basic.
Best little book of tattoos ever., 16 Nov 2008
Great wee book, some awesome tattoos. A truly random selection from around the Globe. Great little stocking filler. GO BUY IT NOW.
Great variety, 15 Nov 2008
Being a fan or ink art this book allowed me to see some really wonderful designs from around the world. A clearly thought out labour of love showing peoples 'pride and joys'. A great book for the collector of tattoo books as well as ink on their skins
Buy a piece of book and tattoo history...!, 14 Nov 2008
I was lucky enough to receive a free copy of this book for being involved. And I am so grateful (although I would have bought it anyway!). It's a great book to have in your collection.
Just as the description says, this book really is the first of it's kind.
And hopefully it will be the first of many!
The best thing about this book is the fact that people from all over the world could contribute and feel part of a global project.
As I collector of tattoos myself, I always love having a nose at other peoples tattoos and this book allows you to do just that - - some you will love, some you will hate - but all of them mean something to someone.
It's also great value for money!
What a great buy this was..., 14 Nov 2008
I'd def recommend this book.
I came across it on myspace and coming from someone who doesn't have tattoos, but is always umming and ahhing I was hooked from page 1. I love the fact that a lot of the images are clearly just taken by the person with the tattoo in their room or wherever, it gives them a much more personal feel.
If I do ever take the jump and get a tattoo, it'll be from one of the tattooists in here.
Treat yourself, get a copy!
I love this book!, 14 Nov 2008
I love this book.
Never get bored of it.
These people have the skills to pay my bills.
Dated, very dated., 11 May 2008
I purchased this book several months ago, I can't remember too well what I was expecting, maybe inspiration for a tattoo, find a few ideas or styles I liked. I found nothing I liked but that's beside the point.
Since the Amazon synopsis doesn't illuminate what this book contains very well I will give you a brief summary. The book contains first, the history of tattooing, how it has evolved into what we know today. Various sections are also devoted to different tattooing locations around the world (China, Russia, Japan, Cuba, Santos, Hong Kong, Polynesia, England). There is also a section on How to get a good Tattoo and "Old School" Tattooing.
Now, how do these sections rank up? This history of tattooing is small, eight pages at the most. It's interesting, but don't buy this book if you really want to learn about tattoo history.
The "On the Road" sections are terrible. What you take away from reading them is to never get a tattoo in any of these locations. All the tattoos featured in this section (save Japan) are terrible. Very very bad, these pictures are accompanied by pictures of prison style tattoo machines and dirty studios.
How to get a Good Tattoo. Let me sum up the first two paragraphs for you, don't smoke and don't move around. And this "section" though I use the term loosely is barely a page long. Other such advice dished out is to stand in front of a mirror naked and "visualize" the tattoo on yourself".
It's not all bad news though folks! The book does deliver. PICTURES. What we all came here for, lots and lots of photos. Pictures of tattoos and studios, more pictures of studios than you would perhaps like to look at.
Here's where my main problem with this book lies though, a book about tattoos, has photographs of tattoos in but all that photos in this book are terribly dated. I mean really dated. The notes state this book was published first in 2004. This has to be a joke, there is not one photograph in here taken in the last ten years. Everything looks pre-95. Though the tattoos do look 'good', done with skill at the time, by modern standards they look average, just average. Did I mention they also look dated, so very dated?
Why buy this book, well there are no reasons to. You'd like to learn the history of tattoos, this book isn't for you. You'd like to learn about different tattoos and styles from around the globe. Not for you. Don't buy this book for inspiration because everything in this book you can find better examples of at your local studio in the flash book.
This book, doesn't know what it's trying to be, its got some terrible photos in (most notably the On the Road chapter, I am serious, some of these look like they have been drawn on with biro, a week ago and not been washed off. The book also contains a lot of filler, there is a whole chapter about head tattoos, what's next, arm tattoos, leg tattoos? Everything in this book can be found out online. Do yourself a favor, save your money, buy something else.
Finally, 08 Jan 2008
I seem to have waited for this book to be published for a long time. It was worth the wait.
A lot of the pictures in this book have appeared in Chris' previous books but it's still worth owning. The wide range of styles covered is fantastic and it's nice to see a tattoo book covering the different lifestyles of those whose choose to be tattooed.
The pictures are great and some of the work shown is amazing.
I have to admit I bought this book as I thought my dad might be featured in it (and he is, on pages 282-289) but I'm really pleased with the book as a whole and would be proud to own it whether he was or not.
Excellent.
A good all rounder book..., 24 Aug 2007
This book is better than most for an all round insight into tattoos. The glossy photos are of an ok standard, and this would be my only criticism. There are occasional photo's of some great artists work, but on the whole the tattoos aren't that good. A huge book though and the best i've seen covering so many different varietys of styles.
Fantastic book - pictures are brilliant, 16 Mar 2007
I would deffinately recommend this book to anyone. Although there isn't huge quantities of writing, their are some wonderful pictures which say so much themselves. The writing that is there gives you all you need to know if you just want a baseline understanding and abit of history. Im doing A-level art and got this book for my exam piece and have found it very useful and inspiring.
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Customer Reviews
Russian Criminal Tattoo Encyclopaedia., 26 May 2005
This is truly one of those life changing books. It is surreal, vulgar, explicit and tender in equal measure. I have an interest in tattooing but my wife does not and she was as taken by the Alice in Wonderland otherness of this book as I was. Everything you have never nor will ever need to know about the Russian criminal underground and it's bizarrely profane tattoo culture.
The american Vince Ray! , 27 Sep 2007
This book is a must for any fans of Tattoos and Vince Ray! highly recommended! Great art work, great colours and great ideas!
Bushido: Legacies Of The Japanese Tattoo, 13 Jan 2008
This was a fantastic book, with some very interesting viewpoints and information. I found the relationship between the samurai honour system and traditional japanese tattooing particularly intreguing, and the photography and sketches provided a great insight to the visual elements described in this book. Highly recommended for anyone wanting to know a bit more!
Stunning, 08 Jul 2007
An excellent resource, full of the very best, older-style Japanese tattoos. Loads of colour photographs, excellent, informative texts.
Bushido Legacies Of The Japanese Tattoo, 11 Aug 2002
An all round excellent book with many fine pictures, and lots of interesting and well wrote information on the history and origins of janpanese tattooing. Well worth the asking price.
Don't Judge This Book by Its cover, 18 Dec 2007
The cover is without doubt the best thing about this book. Its like a cheap 'all about horoscopes' book that you'd get from a bargain book store for £1.99 inside - cheap paper and poor (actually very poor) illustrations. Not my idea of good tattoo book for sure and possibly quite dated. Tripe.
Make sure it's what you're after..., 06 Dec 2006
Those who criticize this book for a paucity of illustration are missing the point, I think. Rather than being a pictorial source, this book offers an interesting and frequently insightful guide to the semiotics of tattoo art.
There is plenty here to get you thinking: designs that you may never have heard of as well as new perspectives on old chestnuts. Some of the un-illustrated oddities are a little frustrating, but it's easy enough to find examples elsewhere.
Absorbing it is. A flash-book it ain't.
poor quality reference book, 10 Aug 2004
This book was really dissapointing, very few pictures and the ones that are included are cery basic.
Best little book of tattoos ever., 16 Nov 2008
Great wee book, some awesome tattoos. A truly random selection from around the Globe. Great little stocking filler. GO BUY IT NOW.
Great variety, 15 Nov 2008
Being a fan or ink art this book allowed me to see some really wonderful designs from around the world. A clearly thought out labour of love showing peoples 'pride and joys'. A great book for the collector of tattoo books as well as ink on their skins
Buy a piece of book and tattoo history...!, 14 Nov 2008
I was lucky enough to receive a free copy of this book for being involved. And I am so grateful (although I would have bought it anyway!). It's a great book to have in your collection.
Just as the description says, this book really is the first of it's kind.
And hopefully it will be the first of many!
The best thing about this book is the fact that people from all over the world could contribute and feel part of a global project.
As I collector of tattoos myself, I always love having a nose at other peoples tattoos and this book allows you to do just that - - some you will love, some you will hate - but all of them mean something to someone.
It's also great value for money!
What a great buy this was..., 14 Nov 2008
I'd def recommend this book.
I came across it on myspace and coming from someone who doesn't have tattoos, but is always umming and ahhing I was hooked from page 1. I love the fact that a lot of the images are clearly just taken by the person with the tattoo in their room or wherever, it gives them a much more personal feel.
If I do ever take the jump and get a tattoo, it'll be from one of the tattooists in here.
Treat yourself, get a copy!
I love this book!, 14 Nov 2008
I love this book.
Never get bored of it.
These people have the skills to pay my bills.
Dated, very dated., 11 May 2008
I purchased this book several months ago, I can't remember too well what I was expecting, maybe inspiration for a tattoo, find a few ideas or styles I liked. I found nothing I liked but that's beside the point.
Since the Amazon synopsis doesn't illuminate what this book contains very well I will give you a brief summary. The book contains first, the history of tattooing, how it has evolved into what we know today. Various sections are also devoted to different tattooing locations around the world (China, Russia, Japan, Cuba, Santos, Hong Kong, Polynesia, England). There is also a section on How to get a good Tattoo and "Old School" Tattooing.
Now, how do these sections rank up? This history of tattooing is small, eight pages at the most. It's interesting, but don't buy this book if you really want to learn about tattoo history.
The "On the Road" sections are terrible. What you take away from reading them is to never get a tattoo in any of these locations. All the tattoos featured in this section (save Japan) are terrible. Very very bad, these pictures are accompanied by pictures of prison style tattoo machines and dirty studios.
How to get a Good Tattoo. Let me sum up the first two paragraphs for you, don't smoke and don't move around. And this "section" though I use the term loosely is barely a page long. Other such advice dished out is to stand in front of a mirror naked and "visualize" the tattoo on yourself".
It's not all bad news though folks! The book does deliver. PICTURES. What we all came here for, lots and lots of photos. Pictures of tattoos and studios, more pictures of studios than you would perhaps like to look at.
Here's where my main problem with this book lies though, a book about tattoos, has photographs of tattoos in but all that photos in this book are terribly dated. I mean really dated. The notes state this book was published first in 2004. This has to be a joke, there is not one photograph in here taken in the last ten years. Everything looks pre-95. Though the tattoos do look 'good', done with skill at the time, by modern standards they look average, just average. Did I mention they also look dated, so very dated?
Why buy this book, well there are no reasons to. You'd like to learn the history of tattoos, this book isn't for you. You'd like to learn about different tattoos and styles from around the globe. Not for you. Don't buy this book for inspiration because everything in this book you can find better examples of at your local studio in the flash book.
This book, doesn't know what it's trying to be, its got some terrible photos in (most notably the On the Road chapter, I am serious, some of these look like they have been drawn on with biro, a week ago and not been washed off. The book also contains a lot of filler, there is a whole chapter about head tattoos, what's next, arm tattoos, leg tattoos? Everything in this book can be found out online. Do yourself a favor, save your money, buy something else.
Finally, 08 Jan 2008
I seem to have waited for this book to be published for a long time. It was worth the wait.
A lot of the pictures in this book have appeared in Chris' previous books but it's still worth owning. The wide range of styles covered is fantastic and it's nice to see a tattoo book covering the different lifestyles of those whose choose to be tattooed.
The pictures are great and some of the work shown is amazing.
I have to admit I bought this book as I thought my dad might be featured in it (and he is, on pages 282-289) but I'm really pleased with the book as a whole and would be proud to own it whether he was or not.
Excellent.
A good all rounder book..., 24 Aug 2007
This book is better than most for an all round insight into tattoos. The glossy photos are of an ok standard, and this would be my only criticism. There are occasional photo's of some great artists work, but on the whole the tattoos aren't that good. A huge book though and the best i've seen covering so many different varietys of styles.
Fantastic book - pictures are brilliant, 16 Mar 2007
I would deffinately recommend this book to anyone. Although there isn't huge quantities of writing, their are some wonderful pictures which say so much themselves. The writing that is there gives you all you need to know if you just want a baseline understanding and abit of history. Im doing A-level art and got this book for my exam piece and have found it very useful and inspiring.
Priceless., 19 Sep 2008
This book has got to be part of a tattoo enthusiasts library. The photographs are superb and the right up is thorough, covering all the expected aspects of Irezumi. Big book, great price, buy it.
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Vintage Tattoos
Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
*Best price found from Amazon Marketplace seller
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*Amazon: £9.61
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Customer Reviews
Russian Criminal Tattoo Encyclopaedia., 26 May 2005
This is truly one of those life changing books. It is surreal, vulgar, explicit and tender in equal measure. I have an interest in tattooing but my wife does not and she was as taken by the Alice in Wonderland otherness of this book as I was. Everything you have never nor will ever need to know about the Russian criminal underground and it's bizarrely profane tattoo culture.
The american Vince Ray! , 27 Sep 2007
This book is a must for any fans of Tattoos and Vince Ray! highly recommended! Great art work, great colours and great ideas!
Bushido: Legacies Of The Japanese Tattoo, 13 Jan 2008
This was a fantastic book, with some very interesting viewpoints and information. I found the relationship between the samurai honour system and traditional japanese tattooing particularly intreguing, and the photography and sketches provided a great insight to the visual elements described in this book. Highly recommended for anyone wanting to know a bit more!
Stunning, 08 Jul 2007
An excellent resource, full of the very best, older-style Japanese tattoos. Loads of colour photographs, excellent, informative texts.
Bushido Legacies Of The Japanese Tattoo, 11 Aug 2002
An all round excellent book with many fine pictures, and lots of interesting and well wrote information on the history and origins of janpanese tattooing. Well worth the asking price.
Don't Judge This Book by Its cover, 18 Dec 2007
The cover is without doubt the best thing about this book. Its like a cheap 'all about horoscopes' book that you'd get from a bargain book store for £1.99 inside - cheap paper and poor (actually very poor) illustrations. Not my idea of good tattoo book for sure and possibly quite dated. Tripe.
Make sure it's what you're after..., 06 Dec 2006
Those who criticize this book for a paucity of illustration are missing the point, I think. Rather than being a pictorial source, this book offers an interesting and frequently insightful guide to the semiotics of tattoo art.
There is plenty here to get you thinking: designs that you may never have heard of as well as new perspectives on old chestnuts. Some of the un-illustrated oddities are a little frustrating, but it's easy enough to find examples elsewhere.
Absorbing it is. A flash-book it ain't.
poor quality reference book, 10 Aug 2004
This book was really dissapointing, very few pictures and the ones that are included are cery basic.
Best little book of tattoos ever., 16 Nov 2008
Great wee book, some awesome tattoos. A truly random selection from around the Globe. Great little stocking filler. GO BUY IT NOW.
Great variety, 15 Nov 2008
Being a fan or ink art this book allowed me to see some really wonderful designs from around the world. A clearly thought out labour of love showing peoples 'pride and joys'. A great book for the collector of tattoo books as well as ink on their skins
Buy a piece of book and tattoo history...!, 14 Nov 2008
I was lucky enough to receive a free copy of this book for being involved. And I am so grateful (although I would have bought it anyway!). It's a great book to have in your collection.
Just as the description says, this book really is the first of it's kind.
And hopefully it will be the first of many!
The best thing about this book is the fact that people from all over the world could contribute and feel part of a global project.
As I collector of tattoos myself, I always love having a nose at other peoples tattoos and this book allows you to do just that - - some you will love, some you will hate - but all of them mean something to someone.
It's also great value for money!
What a great buy this was..., 14 Nov 2008
I'd def recommend this book.
I came across it on myspace and coming from someone who doesn't have tattoos, but is always umming and ahhing I was hooked from page 1. I love the fact that a lot of the images are clearly just taken by the person with the tattoo in their room or wherever, it gives them a much more personal feel.
If I do ever take the jump and get a tattoo, it'll be from one of the tattooists in here.
Treat yourself, get a copy!
I love this book!, 14 Nov 2008
I love this book.
Never get bored of it.
These people have the skills to pay my bills.
Dated, very dated., 11 May 2008
I purchased this book several months ago, I can't remember too well what I was expecting, maybe inspiration for a tattoo, find a few ideas or styles I liked. I found nothing I liked but that's beside the point.
Since the Amazon synopsis doesn't illuminate what this book contains very well I will give you a brief summary. The book contains first, the history of tattooing, how it has evolved into what we know today. Various sections are also devoted to different tattooing locations around the world (China, Russia, Japan, Cuba, Santos, Hong Kong, Polynesia, England). There is also a section on How to get a good Tattoo and "Old School" Tattooing.
Now, how do these sections rank up? This history of tattooing is small, eight pages at the most. It's interesting, but don't buy this book if you really want to learn about tattoo history.
The "On the Road" sections are terrible. What you take away from reading them is to never get a tattoo in any of these locations. All the tattoos featured in this section (save Japan) are terrible. Very very bad, these pictures are accompanied by pictures of prison style tattoo machines and dirty studios.
How to get a Good Tattoo. Let me sum up the first two paragraphs for you, don't smoke and don't move around. And this "section" though I use the term loosely is barely a page long. Other such advice dished out is to stand in front of a mirror naked and "visualize" the tattoo on yourself".
It's not all bad news though folks! The book does deliver. PICTURES. What we all came here for, lots and lots of photos. Pictures of tattoos and studios, more pictures of studios than you would perhaps like to look at.
Here's where my main problem with this book lies though, a book about tattoos, has photographs of tattoos in but all that photos in this book are terribly dated. I mean really dated. The notes state this book was published first in 2004. This has to be a joke, there is not one photograph in here taken in the last ten years. Everything looks pre-95. Though the tattoos do look 'good', done with skill at the time, by modern standards they look average, just average. Did I mention they also look dated, so very dated?
Why buy this book, well there are no reasons to. You'd like to learn the history of tattoos, this book isn't for you. You'd like to learn about different tattoos and styles from around the globe. Not for you. Don't buy this book for inspiration because everything in this book you can find better examples of at your local studio in the flash book.
This book, doesn't know what it's trying to be, its got some terrible photos in (most notably the On the Road chapter, I am serious, some of these look like they have been drawn on with biro, a week ago and not been washed off. The book also contains a lot of filler, there is a whole chapter about head tattoos, what's next, arm tattoos, leg tattoos? Everything in this book can be found out online. Do yourself a favor, save your money, buy something else.
Finally, 08 Jan 2008
I seem to have waited for this book to be published for a long time. It was worth the wait.
A lot of the pictures in this book have appeared in Chris' previous books but it's still worth owning. The wide range of styles covered is fantastic and it's nice to see a tattoo book covering the different lifestyles of those whose choose to be tattooed.
The pictures are great and some of the work shown is amazing.
I have to admit I bought this book as I thought my dad might be featured in it (and he is, on pages 282-289) but I'm really pleased with the book as a whole and would be proud to own it whether he was or not.
Excellent.
A good all rounder book..., 24 Aug 2007
This book is better than most for an all round insight into tattoos. The glossy photos are of an ok standard, and this would be my only criticism. There are occasional photo's of some great artists work, but on the whole the tattoos aren't that good. A huge book though and the best i've seen covering so many different varietys of styles.
Fantastic book - pictures are brilliant, 16 Mar 2007
I would deffinately recommend this book to anyone. Although there isn't huge quantities of writing, their are some wonderful pictures which say so much themselves. The writing that is there gives you all you need to know if you just want a baseline understanding and abit of history. Im doing A-level art and got this book for my exam piece and have found it very useful and inspiring.
Priceless., 19 Sep 2008
This book has got to be part of a tattoo enthusiasts library. The photographs are superb and the right up is thorough, covering all the expected aspects of Irezumi. Big book, great price, buy it.
Definitely NOT what it says on the tin !, 18 Oct 2008
This book describes itself as containing detailed photos and instructions from inside 10 studios. It calls itself 'advanced' and says it contains tips from the masters. It deliberately leads the buyer to think that [at least] 'some' advanced tattooing techniques will be described within the book.
The book is NOT what it says it is.
It is more like at look at the work of an artist in photograph format. Notes to accompany the pictures are usually one liners at the most, such as ... here the tattooist adds what is known as shading. No attempt is made throughout the book to explain anything.
I have numerous tattoos on myself [done over many years] and have used a tattoo machine (on myself only) a few times too. I have read a few tattoo books and watched a number of videos. I have read a lot of books/literature in my lifetime (goes with my profession) but this book is simply NOT worth buying ... not even second-hand for 10 pence at a local jumble sale - sorry.
The phrase within the books own description of itself - 'detailed instructions' - is a blatant lie in my opinion. From beginning to end, there are NO instructions at all in this entire book whatsoever - detailed or otherwise!
The book is very VERY clearly created by a total 'outsider' to the world of tattooing - seems like it is written by perhaps a news reporter, who has just had his first EVER look inside a tattoo parlour, and is utterly awe-struck at what he has seen (as he repeatedly keeps on telling us). The narrative reads more like a child's bedtime story. E.g. " ... and as the incessant buzzing stopped and the needles finally stopped their endless stinging, the area was wiped to reveal the most fantastically impressive coloured shading". No attempt [at all] was then made to say how the shading was done.
The ten tattoos are shown in good quality photographs as they are built up. But the accompanying labels to the photos are on a par with ... now this first bit of black ink is called the outlining. Now [in this photo] he adds a bit of blue. Here [in this next photo] she adds a bit of yellow. Etc etc
Perhaps the author(?) genuinely [but very mistakenly] thinks that he really has shared some insight to the world of tattooing.
However, almost anyone who has ever had even a single tattoo themselves [or possibly even just visited a tattoo parlour a couple of times] will probably already know much of that which is shared in this book. It is of no real use to anyone who has ever actually held a tattoo machine. I truly do wish I could say otherwise (after all, I wasted my hard-earned cash on a brand new copy of this book).
The only input [at all] from anyone with even the slightest knowledge of tattooing is in the interviews with each of the ten tattooists. However, don't get your hopes up. The 'reporter' does not ask questions such as which brand of inks do you prefer for which technique or how do you dilute inks to do subtle grey shading [e.g. in photorealistic work] or how do you achieve this [e.g. layered] effect or that effect. Oh no! Instead, the 'reporter' asks what school did you go to, how old were you when you started tattooing, what was your first tattoo and what is your favourite tattoo style. I couldn't give a monkey's about those questions ... I bought the book coz it said it was an 'Advanced tattoo Art' book with detailed instructions and 'tips from masters'. Sadly, it [very much] isn't !
A very VERY disappointing book
Do NOT buy this book ... please. You have been warned!
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Customer Reviews
Russian Criminal Tattoo Encyclopaedia., 26 May 2005
This is truly one of those life changing books. It is surreal, vulgar, explicit and tender in equal measure. I have an interest in tattooing but my wife does not and she was as taken by the Alice in Wonderland otherness of this book as I was. Everything you have never nor will ever need to know about the Russian criminal underground and it's bizarrely profane tattoo culture.
The american Vince Ray! , 27 Sep 2007
This book is a must for any fans of Tattoos and Vince Ray! highly recommended! Great art work, great colours and great ideas!
Bushido: Legacies Of The Japanese Tattoo, 13 Jan 2008
This was a fantastic book, with some very interesting viewpoints and information. I found the relationship between the samurai honour system and traditional japanese tattooing particularly intreguing, and the photography and sketches provided a great insight to the visual elements described in this book. Highly recommended for anyone wanting to know a bit more!
Stunning, 08 Jul 2007
An excellent resource, full of the very best, older-style Japanese tattoos. Loads of colour photographs, excellent, informative texts.
Bushido Legacies Of The Japanese Tattoo, 11 Aug 2002
An all round excellent book with many fine pictures, and lots of interesting and well wrote information on the history and origins of janpanese tattooing. Well worth the asking price.
Don't Judge This Book by Its cover, 18 Dec 2007
The cover is without doubt the best thing about this book. Its like a cheap 'all about horoscopes' book that you'd get from a bargain book store for £1.99 inside - cheap paper and poor (actually very poor) illustrations. Not my idea of good tattoo book for sure and possibly quite dated. Tripe.
Make sure it's what you're after..., 06 Dec 2006
Those who criticize this book for a paucity of illustration are missing the point, I think. Rather than being a pictorial source, this book offers an interesting and frequently insightful guide to the semiotics of tattoo art.
There is plenty here to get you thinking: designs that you may never have heard of as well as new perspectives on old chestnuts. Some of the un-illustrated oddities are a little frustrating, but it's easy enough to find examples elsewhere.
Absorbing it is. A flash-book it ain't.
poor quality reference book, 10 Aug 2004
This book was really dissapointing, very few pictures and the ones that are included are cery basic.
Best little book of tattoos ever., 16 Nov 2008
Great wee book, some awesome tattoos. A truly random selection from around the Globe. Great little stocking filler. GO BUY IT NOW.
Great variety, 15 Nov 2008
Being a fan or ink art this book allowed me to see some really wonderful designs from around the world. A clearly thought out labour of love showing peoples 'pride and joys'. A great book for the collector of tattoo books as well as ink on their skins
Buy a piece of book and tattoo history...!, 14 Nov 2008
I was lucky enough to receive a free copy of this book for being involved. And I am so grateful (although I would have bought it anyway!). It's a great book to have in your collection.
Just as the description says, this book really is the first of it's kind.
And hopefully it will be the first of many!
The best thing about this book is the fact that people from all over the world could contribute and feel part of a global project.
As I collector of tattoos myself, I always love having a nose at other peoples tattoos and this book allows you to do just that - - some you will love, some you will hate - but all of them mean something to someone.
It's also great value for money!
What a great buy this was..., 14 Nov 2008
I'd def recommend this book.
I came across it on myspace and coming from someone who doesn't have tattoos, but is always umming and ahhing I was hooked from page 1. I love the fact that a lot of the images are clearly just taken by the person with the tattoo in their room or wherever, it gives them a much more personal feel.
If I do ever take the jump and get a tattoo, it'll be from one of the tattooists in here.
Treat yourself, get a copy!
I love this book!, 14 Nov 2008
I love this book.
Never get bored of it.
These people have the skills to pay my bills.
Dated, very dated., 11 May 2008
I purchased this book several months ago, I can't remember too well what I was expecting, maybe inspiration for a tattoo, find a few ideas or styles I liked. I found nothing I liked but that's beside the point.
Since the Amazon synopsis doesn't illuminate what this book contains very well I will give you a brief summary. The book contains first, the history of tattooing, how it has evolved into what we know today. Various sections are also devoted to different tattooing locations around the world (China, Russia, Japan, Cuba, Santos, Hong Kong, Polynesia, England). There is also a section on How to get a good Tattoo and "Old School" Tattooing.
Now, how do these sections rank up? This history of tattooing is small, eight pages at the most. It's interesting, but don't buy this book if you really want to learn about tattoo history.
The "On the Road" sections are terrible. What you take away from reading them is to never get a tattoo in any of these locations. All the tattoos featured in this section (save Japan) are terrible. Very very bad, these pictures are accompanied by pictures of prison style tattoo machines and dirty studios.
How to get a Good Tattoo. Let me sum up the first two paragraphs for you, don't smoke and don't move around. And this "section" though I use the term loosely is barely a page long. Other such advice dished out is to stand in front of a mirror naked and "visualize" the tattoo on yourself".
It's not all bad news though folks! The book does deliver. PICTURES. What we all came here for, lots and lots of photos. Pictures of tattoos and studios, more pictures of studios than you would perhaps like to look at.
Here's where my main problem with this book lies though, a book about tattoos, has photographs of tattoos in but all that photos in this book are terribly dated. I mean really dated. The notes state this book was published first in 2004. This has to be a joke, there is not one photograph in here taken in the last ten years. Everything looks pre-95. Though the tattoos do look 'good', done with skill at the time, by modern standards they look average, just average. Did I mention they also look dated, so very dated?
Why buy this book, well there are no reasons to. You'd like to learn the history of tattoos, this book isn't for you. You'd like to learn about different tattoos and styles from around the globe. Not for you. Don't buy this book for inspiration because everything in this book you can find better examples of at your local studio in the flash book.
This book, doesn't know what it's trying to be, its got some terrible photos in (most notably the On the Road chapter, I am serious, some of these look like they have been drawn on with biro, a week ago and not been washed off. The book also contains a lot of filler, there is a whole chapter about head tattoos, what's next, arm tattoos, leg tattoos? Everything in this book can be found out online. Do yourself a favor, save your money, buy something else.
Finally, 08 Jan 2008
I seem to have waited for this book to be published for a long time. It was worth the wait.
A lot of the pictures in this book have appeared in Chris' previous books but it's still worth owning. The wide range of styles covered is fantastic and it's nice to see a tattoo book covering the different lifestyles of those whose choose to be tattooed.
The pictures are great and some of the work shown is amazing.
I have to admit I bought this book as I thought my dad might be featured in it (and he is, on pages 282-289) but I'm really pleased with the book as a whole and would be proud to own it whether he was or not.
Excellent.
A good all rounder book..., 24 Aug 2007
This book is better than most for an all round insight into tattoos. The glossy photos are of an ok standard, and this would be my only criticism. There are occasional photo's of some great artists work, but on the whole the tattoos aren't that good. A huge book though and the best i've seen covering so many different varietys of styles.
Fantastic book - pictures are brilliant, 16 Mar 2007
I would deffinately recommend this book to anyone. Although there isn't huge quantities of writing, their are some wonderful pictures which say so much themselves. The writing that is there gives you all you need to know if you just want a baseline understanding and abit of history. Im doing A-level art and got this book for my exam piece and have found it very useful and inspiring.
Priceless., 19 Sep 2008
This book has got to be part of a tattoo enthusiasts library. The photographs are superb and the right up is thorough, covering all the expected aspects of Irezumi. Big book, great price, buy it.
Definitely NOT what it says on the tin !, 18 Oct 2008
This book describes itself as containing detailed photos and instructions from inside 10 studios. It calls itself 'advanced' and says it contains tips from the masters. It deliberately leads the buyer to think that [at least] 'some' advanced tattooing techniques will be described within the book.
The book is NOT what it says it is.
It is more like at look at the work of an artist in photograph format. Notes to accompany the pictures are usually one liners at the most, such as ... here the tattooist adds what is known as shading. No attempt is made throughout the book to explain anything.
I have numerous tattoos on myself [done over many years] and have used a tattoo machine (on myself only) a few times too. I have read a few tattoo books and watched a number of videos. I have read a lot of books/literature in my lifetime (goes with my profession) but this book is simply NOT worth buying ... not even second-hand for 10 pence at a local jumble sale - sorry.
The phrase within the books own description of itself - 'detailed instructions' - is a blatant lie in my opinion. From beginning to end, there are NO instructions at all in this entire book whatsoever - detailed or otherwise!
The book is very VERY clearly created by a total 'outsider' to the world of tattooing - seems like it is written by perhaps a news reporter, who has just had his first EVER look inside a tattoo parlour, and is utterly awe-struck at what he has seen (as he repeatedly keeps on telling us). The narrative reads more like a child's bedtime story. E.g. " ... and as the incessant buzzing stopped and the needles finally stopped their endless stinging, the area was wiped to reveal the most fantastically impressive coloured shading". No attempt [at all] was then made to say how the shading was done.
The ten tattoos are shown in good quality photographs as they are built up. But the accompanying labels to the photos are on a par with ... now this first bit of black ink is called the outlining. Now [in this photo] he adds a bit of blue. Here [in this next photo] she adds a bit of yellow. Etc etc
Perhaps the author(?) genuinely [but very mistakenly] thinks that he really has shared some insight to the world of tattooing.
However, almost anyone who has ever had even a single tattoo themselves [or possibly even just visited a tattoo parlour a couple of times] will probably already know much of that which is shared in this book. It is of no real use to anyone who has ever actually held a tattoo machine. I truly do wish I could say otherwise (after all, I wasted my hard-earned cash on a brand new copy of this book).
The only input [at all] from anyone with even the slightest knowledge of tattooing is in the interviews with each of the ten tattooists. However, don't get your hopes up. The 'reporter' does not ask questions such as which brand of inks do you prefer for which technique or how do you dilute inks to do subtle grey shading [e.g. in photorealistic work] or how do you achieve this [e.g. layered] effect or that effect. Oh no! Instead, the 'reporter' asks what school did you go to, how old were you when you started tattooing, what was your first tattoo and what is your favourite tattoo style. I couldn't give a monkey's about those questions ... I bought the book coz it said it was an 'Advanced tattoo Art' book with detailed instructions and 'tips from masters'. Sadly, it [very much] isn't !
A very VERY disappointing book
Do NOT buy this book ... please. You have been warned!
Great early history of something less commonplace at the time of writing, 31 Jul 2008
This is a reprinting of a 1933 book, Tattoo: Secrets of a Strange Art as Practised among the Natives of the United States, its got a more than ample contents, chapter headings are clear and further summaries exist of each chapter, there's a great bibliography and a good index and since its a Dover book there's a catalogue of other titles included at the end too.
There are some black and white illustrations and the cover and back have got colour reproductions of tats on them, although if you are looking for a book with a lot of illustrations I'd think you may be disappointed. The illustrations are a little funny and cliche and not exactly masterpieces either.
This is really a sociological and psychological screed on tattoos and tattooing, when it was a lot less commonplace, frowned upon etc. when tattooing was a real curio for the majority of mainstream society.
I thought it was great but I could only give it four stars because I've passed it around a couple of friends interested in the topic and they wanted more pictures and commentry on style, trends etc.
Good but..., 16 Mar 2007
Although this is full of information, that is all it is - writing. There are a few pictures in the book in black and white but nothing more. I would also just like to point out that is based on the American History of Tattooing. It was also written quite a few years ago so might be abit pre-dated for some. However it was good, and the information was very interesting!
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Inked
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Customer Reviews
Russian Criminal Tattoo Encyclopaedia., 26 May 2005
This is truly one of those life changing books. It is surreal, vulgar, explicit and tender in equal measure. I have an interest in tattooing but my wife does not and she was as taken by the Alice in Wonderland otherness of this book as I was. Everything you have never nor will ever need to know about the Russian criminal underground and it's bizarrely profane tattoo culture.
The american Vince Ray! , 27 Sep 2007
This book is a must for any fans of Tattoos and Vince Ray! highly recommended! Great art work, great colours and great ideas!
Bushido: Legacies Of The Japanese Tattoo, 13 Jan 2008
This was a fantastic book, with some very interesting viewpoints and information. I found the relationship between the samurai honour system and traditional japanese tattooing particularly intreguing, and the photography and sketches provided a great insight to the visual elements described in this book. Highly recommended for anyone wanting to know a bit more!
Stunning, 08 Jul 2007
An excellent resource, full of the very best, older-style Japanese tattoos. Loads of colour photographs, excellent, informative texts.
Bushido Legacies Of The Japanese Tattoo, 11 Aug 2002
An all round excellent book with many fine pictures, and lots of interesting and well wrote information on the history and origins of janpanese tattooing. Well worth the asking price.
Don't Judge This Book by Its cover, 18 Dec 2007
The cover is without doubt the best thing about this book. Its like a cheap 'all about horoscopes' book that you'd get from a bargain book store for £1.99 inside - cheap paper and poor (actually very poor) illustrations. Not my idea of good tattoo book for sure and possibly quite dated. Tripe.
Make sure it's what you're after..., 06 Dec 2006
Those who criticize this book for a paucity of illustration are missing the point, I think. Rather than being a pictorial source, this book offers an interesting and frequently insightful guide to the semiotics of tattoo art.
There is plenty here to get you thinking: designs that you may never have heard of as well as new perspectives on old chestnuts. Some of the un-illustrated oddities are a little frustrating, but it's easy enough to find examples elsewhere.
Absorbing it is. A flash-book it ain't.
poor quality reference book, 10 Aug 2004
This book was really dissapointing, very few pictures and the ones that are included are cery basic.
Best little book of tattoos ever., 16 Nov 2008
Great wee book, some awesome tattoos. A truly random selection from around the Globe. Great little stocking filler. GO BUY IT NOW.
Great variety, 15 Nov 2008
Being a fan or ink art this book allowed me to see some really wonderful designs from around the world. A clearly thought out labour of love showing peoples 'pride and joys'. A great book for the collector of tattoo books as well as ink on their skins
Buy a piece of book and tattoo history...!, 14 Nov 2008
I was lucky enough to receive a free copy of this book for being involved. And I am so grateful (although I would have bought it anyway!). It's a great book to have in your collection.
Just as the description says, this book really is the first of it's kind.
And hopefully it will be the first of many!
The best thing about this book is the fact that people from all over the world could contribute and feel part of a global project.
As I collector of tattoos myself, I always love having a nose at other peoples tattoos and this book allows you to do just that - - some you will love, some you will hate - but all of them mean something to someone.
It's also great value for money!
What a great buy this was..., 14 Nov 2008
I'd def recommend this book.
I came across it on myspace and coming from someone who doesn't have tattoos, but is always umming and ahhing I was hooked from page 1. I love the fact that a lot of the images are clearly just taken by the person with the tattoo in their room or wherever, it gives them a much more personal feel.
If I do ever take the jump and get a tattoo, it'll be from one of the tattooists in here.
Treat yourself, get a copy!
I love this book!, 14 Nov 2008
I love this book.
Never get bored of it.
These people have the skills to pay my bills.
Dated, very dated., 11 May 2008
I purchased this book several months ago, I can't remember too well what I was expecting, maybe inspiration for a tattoo, find a few ideas or styles I liked. I found nothing I liked but that's beside the point.
Since the Amazon synopsis doesn't illuminate what this book contains very well I will give you a brief summary. The book contains first, the history of tattooing, how it has evolved into what we know today. Various sections are also devoted to different tattooing locations around the world (China, Russia, Japan, Cuba, Santos, Hong Kong, Polynesia, England). There is also a section on How to get a good Tattoo and "Old School" Tattooing.
Now, how do these sections rank up? This history of tattooing is small, eight pages at the most. It's interesting, but don't buy this book if you really want to learn about tattoo history.
The "On the Road" sections are terrible. What you take away from reading them is to never get a tattoo in any of these locations. All the tattoos featured in this section (save Japan) are terrible. Very very bad, these pictures are accompanied by pictures of prison style tattoo machines and dirty studios.
How to get a Good Tattoo. Let me sum up the first two paragraphs for you, don't smoke and don't move around. And this "section" though I use the term loosely is barely a page long. Other such advice dished out is to stand in front of a mirror naked and "visualize" the tattoo on yourself".
It's not all bad news though folks! The book does deliver. PICTURES. What we all came here for, lots and lots of photos. Pictures of tattoos and studios, more pictures of studios than you would perhaps like to look at.
Here's where my main problem with this book lies though, a book about tattoos, has photographs of tattoos in but all that photos in this book are terribly dated. I mean really dated. The notes state this book was published first in 2004. This has to be a joke, there is not one photograph in here taken in the last ten years. Everything looks pre-95. Though the tattoos do look 'good', done with skill at the time, by modern standards they look average, just average. Did I mention they also look dated, so very dated?
Why buy this book, well there are no reasons to. You'd like to learn the history of tattoos, this book isn't for you. You'd like to learn about different tattoos and styles from around the globe. Not for you. Don't buy this book for inspiration because everything in this book you can find better examples of at your local studio in the flash book.
This book, doesn't know what it's trying to be, its got some terrible photos in (most notably the On the Road chapter, I am serious, some of these look like they have been drawn on with biro, a week ago and not been washed off. The book also contains a lot of filler, there is a whole chapter about head tattoos, what's next, arm tattoos, leg tattoos? Everything in this book can be found out online. Do yourself a favor, save your money, buy something else.
Finally, 08 Jan 2008
I seem to have waited for this book to be published for a long time. It was worth the wait.
A lot of the pictures in this book have appeared in Chris' previous books but it's still worth owning. The wide range of styles covered is fantastic and it's nice to see a tattoo book covering the different lifestyles of those whose choose to be tattooed.
The pictures are great and some of the work shown is amazing.
I have to admit I bought this book as I thought my dad might be featured in it (and he is, on pages 282-289) but I'm really pleased with the book as a whole and would be proud to own it whether he was or not.
Excellent.
A good all rounder book..., 24 Aug 2007
This book is better than most for an all round insight into tattoos. The glossy photos are of an ok standard, and this would be my only criticism. There are occasional photo's of some great artists work, but on the whole the tattoos aren't that good. A huge book though and the best i've seen covering so many different varietys of styles.
Fantastic book - pictures are brilliant, 16 Mar 2007
I would deffinately recommend this book to anyone. Although there isn't huge quantities of writing, their are some wonderful pictures which say so much themselves. The writing that is there gives you all you need to know if you just want a baseline understanding and abit of history. Im doing A-level art and got this book for my exam piece and have found it very useful and inspiring.
Priceless., 19 Sep 2008
This book has got to be part of a tattoo enthusiasts library. The photographs are superb and the right up is thorough, covering all the expected aspects of Irezumi. Big book, great price, buy it.
Definitely NOT what it says on the tin !, 18 Oct 2008
This book describes itself as containing detailed photos and instructions from inside 10 studios. It calls itself 'advanced' and says it contains tips from the masters. It deliberately leads the buyer to think that [at least] 'some' advanced tattooing techniques will be described within the book.
The book is NOT what it says it is.
It is more like at look at the work of an artist in photograph format. Notes to accompany the pictures are usually one liners at the most, such as ... here the tattooist adds what is known as shading. No attempt is made throughout the book to explain anything.
I have numerous tattoos on myself [done over many years] and have used a tattoo machine (on myself only) a few times too. I have read a few tattoo books and watched a number of videos. I have read a lot of books/literature in my lifetime (goes with my profession) but this book is simply NOT worth buying ... not even second-hand for 10 pence at a local jumble sale - sorry.
The phrase within the books own description of itself - 'detailed instructions' - is a blatant lie in my opinion. From beginning to end, there are NO instructions at all in this entire book whatsoever - detailed or otherwise!
The book is very VERY clearly created by a total 'outsider' to the world of tattooing - seems like it is written by perhaps a news reporter, who has just had his first EVER look inside a tattoo parlour, and is utterly awe-struck at what he has seen (as he repeatedly keeps on telling us). The narrative reads more like a child's bedtime story. E.g. " ... and as the incessant buzzing stopped and the needles finally stopped their endless stinging, the area was wiped to reveal the most fantastically impressive coloured shading". No attempt [at all] was then made to say how the shading was done.
The ten tattoos are shown in good quality photographs as they are built up. But the accompanying labels to the photos are on a par with ... now this first bit of black ink is called the outlining. Now [in this photo] he adds a bit of blue. Here [in this next photo] she adds a bit of yellow. Etc etc
Perhaps the author(?) genuinely [but very mistakenly] thinks that he really has shared some insight to the world of tattooing.
However, almost anyone who has ever had even a single tattoo themselves [or possibly even just visited a tattoo parlour a couple of times] will probably already know much of that which is shared in this book. It is of no real use to anyone who has ever actually held a tattoo machine. I truly do wish I could say otherwise (after all, I wasted my hard-earned cash on a brand new copy of this book).
The only input [at all] from anyon | | |