Sailor Jerry tattoos....are YOU wearing a piece of history? I don't mean the Sailor Jerry patterns that are so popular and prolific in tattoo shops today, no I mean the REAL DEAL. If you were tattooed in Chinatown in the 60's it was quite probable that Sailor Jerry was the man!
In the tattoo world Sailor Jerry is right up there as probably the most famous, and revered, tattooist of the 20th Century. He was salty, articulate, outspoken and artistic. Don Ed Hardy's book, Sailor Jerry Collins, American Tattoo Master, is a collection of Jerry's letters that shed light to the man and the craft of tattooing 'back in the day'. His work was clean and bold. There were no tattoo supply companies then so machines, equipment and pigments were hit and miss handcrafted by the tattoers themselves.
Sailor Jerry Original, photo courtesy of Don Ed Hardy's book Sailor Jerry Collins, American Tattoo Master
I have had the pleasure of running into many a tattooed person lately who have told me the story of getting their work done by that 'Sailor guy' down in Chinatown nearly 40 years ago. Often the story begins with 'there were four of us sailors and we were all drunk' Yeah, tattooing was alot different back then! But the story continues and as I look at the 40+ year old tattoo with color faded but lines still strong I sense Jerry standing right there before me. I look into the face of the bearer and I see the young person once again...telling the tale of the adventure so long ago. History at it's finest!
So I appeal to you folks out there who are wearing these pieces of history....contact me, please! Share your story. Not for a book, not for profit, just for the sheer joy of the history.
Jerry's work area, photo courtesy of Don Ed Hardy's book
, Sailor Jerry Collins, American Tattoo Master 
