Memoirs of a Tattooist: From the Notes, Diaries and Letters of the late 'King of Tattooists'
London: Oldburne, (1958). First printing. Black and white frontispiece and photographic plates. Cloth over boards. Octavo. 222 pages. Bound in red cloth over boards with gilt-stamped spine titles. No significant wear to book Jacket has a couple of short, cleanly closed edge tears, a few tiny rubs, and a hint of browning to edges of rear panel. Fine in a fine unclipped dust jacket.
George Burchett was kicked out of school at age 12 for tattooing his classmates. After a stint in the Royal Navy--from which he absconded--he became a full-time tattoo artist in 1900.
He served a broad clientele, including the wealth upper class and European royalty. Burchett pioneered cosmetic tattooing in the 1930s with innovations such as permanently darkening eyebrows.
Burchett died suddenly in 1953, but left a trove of documents, pictures, annotated appointment books, a diary, and even a draft of a memoir. These are the basis of the present work--a rich resource on the history and practice of tattooing.
Uncommon in such nice condition.
Item #1087
Price: $600