Incognito Press, Los Angeles, 2008 | Softcover, 60pp | 14 × 21 cm | First Edition
A small but vital document of American tattoo history. Lost Art reproduces a cache of traditional flash sheets discovered at a Los Angeles flea market in the early 1990s, believed to be the work of Owen Jensen (1891–1976) - one of the foundational figures of West Coast tattooing. Bold, symbolic and beautifully executed in watercolour, these designs capture the archetypal grammar of early 20th-century tattoo culture: anchors, dragons, sailors, pin-ups, eagles, hearts and banners. A pure slice of vernacular Americana, rescued from obscurity and printed in full colour.
Compact softcover with smooth black wraps and tonal black lettering. Inside, high-contrast reproductions on glossy paper stock evoke the immediacy of the original flash. Simple tactile, and satisfying in hand - a book that feels appropriately ghosted by the workshop air of tattoo parlours past.
Very good condition:Light edgewear and faint rubbing to covers consistent with handling; internally clean and bright - appears unread.
