Ed Hardy's TATTOOTIME Magazine

Tattoo artist Don Ed Hardy became a magazine publisher to fill his own desire to see a quality tattoo publication on the market. Although the tattoo magazine "Tattootime" only produced five issues, each was nothing but information and pictures, with no advertisements. Even now, years after they went out of print, the issues still are as accurate and informative as they were back in the late 1980s.

Perfect-bound with a full-color front and back cover, "Tattootime" was more like a series of mini-books than a magazine. Hardy picked defining themes for each issue and created a series of stories that crossed tattoo culture but still was centered on the overall theme.

Vol. 1 - New Tribalism
This volume was the very first comprehensive thing I ever read that talked about tribal-style tattooing. Take a look back to the early days of modern tribal tattooing.
Vol. 2 - Tattoo Magic
The second volume took at look at "tattoo magic" and the history of sacred symbols used in skin art. There are the protective images such as the Christian Rock of Ages, and the cross, and then there are sacred Buddhist prayers and priests who make tattoos in Thailand.

Vol. 3 - Music and Sea Tattoos
The music section of this volume let's you peek back to the late 1980s and take a look at the punk rock tattoo scene of that time. It also explores nautical themes in tattooing.

Vol. 4 - Life and Death Tattoos
Hardy looks at how people express their feelings about life and death in their skin art.

Vol. 5 - Art From The Heart
The issues expanded from a magazine size to a book page count. It covers cutting edge tattoo designs of the time (1991) and art that comes from the heart.

To keep an eye out for copies of "Tattootime," you'll have to keep checking places like Amazon, eBay or Half.com. You might like other books from Ed Hardy such as Dragon Tattoo Design or Tattoo Flash .