Tattoo, Circus, Sideshow & Curiosities
Starts on:
Portsmouth, NH, United States
Auction Details
Tattoo, Circus, Sideshow & Curiosities
Bray & Co. is pleased to present Tattoo, Circus, Sideshow & Curiosities?an inaugural sale celebrating the rich visual and cultural history of the unusual and extraordinary. This landmark auction brings together exceptional works from around the world, most of which, long hidden from public view, are being offered here for the first time.
Anchoring the sale are several important private collections, including one of the finest assemblages of flash by pioneering tattoo artist Bert Grimm, tracing his career from 1930s St. Louis to 1960s Long Beach; extraordinary material from the personal collection of Bellingham tattooer Fred Marquand; and significant works and ephemera from the most celebrated figures in tattoo history, including Don Ed Hardy, Owen Jensen, Dainty Dotty, Sailor Jerry, Betty Broadbent, Percy Waters, Ben Corday, Lew Alberts, Paul Rogers, Charlie Wagner, and many others.
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0001: Pointing Finger Tattoo Shop Sign Painted by Erno [Trade Sign - Folk Art] (San Francisco, ca. 1990)Est.
$250
-$450
$100
0002: Cabinet Card of Man Tattooed by Lew "The Jew" Alberts [Harry Lawson - Pittsburgh - Bowery] (NewEst.
$1,000
-$2,000
$500
FEATURED
0003: Cabinet Card of Tattoo Artist Lew "The Jew" Alberts [Harry Lawson - Pittsburgh - Bowery] (New York,Est.
$1,500
-$2,500
$750
0004: Cabinet Card of Tattoo Artist Lew "The Jew" Alberts [Circus - Bowery - Jewish] (New York, ca. 1905)Est.
$1,500
-$2,500
$750
0005: Cabinet Card of Tattoo Artist "Painless" Jack Tryon [Bowery - Photograph - Sideshow] (New York, ca.Est.
$1,000
-$2,000
$500
0006: Photograph of Charlie Wagner Tattooing a Boy [Bowery - Tattoo], (New York, ca. 1920) 3 1/2 x 5 3/4Est.
$800
-$1,200
$600
0007: Cabinet Card of Tattooed Lady Annie Howard [Photograph - Circus - Barnum - Bowery], (New York, ca.Est.
$400
-$600
$250
0008: Cabinet Card of Tattooed Lady Annie Howard [Photograph - Circus - Barnum - Bowery], (New York, ca.Est.
$400
-$600
$200
0009: Photo Postcard of Tattooed Boy Andy Stuertz [Bowery - Tattoo - RPPC] (New York, ca. 1920) 5 1/2 x 3Est.
$200
-$400
$100
(1 bid)0010: Photo Postcard of Christ Head Tattoo on Huey Bowen [RPPC] (Detroit, ca. 1920) 5 1/2 x 3 1/2 in. (14Est.
$200
-$400
$100
0011: Postcard of Tattooed Lady Stella Grassman [RPPC - Tattoo] (Philadelphia, ca. 1930) 5 1/2 x 3 1/2 in.Est.
$250
-$450
$100
(1 bid)0012: Phil Sparrow's Chicago Tattoo Shop [Photograph - LGBTQ] (Chicago, ca.1956) 5 x 4 in. (12.7 x 10.2Est.
$300
-$500
$100
0013: Paul Rogers' Tattoo Photo Scrapbook [Bowery - Dietzel - Archive] (American, 1910-1960) 14 x 1 x 11Est.
$2,000
-$3,000
$500
0014: Brose Massey Tattoo Artist Business Card [Tattoo - Trade Card - Ephemera] (America, ca. 1920) 1 1/2Est.
$250
-$450
$100
0015: Frederick Boehme Tattoo Artist Business Card (San Pedro, California, ca. 1935) 2 x 3 1/2 in. (5.1 xEst.
$250
-$450
$50
0016: Brose Massey Electric Tattooing Artist Business Card [Tattoo - Trade Card - Ephemera] (EastEst.
$250
-$450
$100
0017: Karl Bumpus Tattoo Artist Business Card, (Garrettsville, Ohio, ca. 1950) 2 1/4 x 3 1/4 in. (5.7 xEst.
$250
-$450
$50
0018: Harold "Lefty" Liberty Tattoo Business Card [Trade Card - Ephemera], (Boston, ca. 1946) 2 x 3 1/2Est.
$150
-$250
$25
0019: Frank Liberty Tattoo Business Card [Trade Card - Ephemera], (Portland, Maine, ca. 1935) 2 x 3 1/2Est.
$150
-$250
$50
0020: Ernie Sutton Tattoo Artist Business Card [Trade Card - Ephemera] (Los Angeles, ca. 1955) 2 1/4 x 3Est.
$100
-$200
$50
0021: "Sailor Jerry" Collins Tattoo Artist Oversize Business Card (Honolulu, ca. 1965) 2 1/4 x 3 1/2 in.Est.
$250
-$450
$50
(1 bid)0022: Ted Liberty Tattoo Artist Business Card [Trade Card - Ephemera] (Vancouver, ca. 1960) 2 3/4 x 4 1/4Est.
$150
-$250
$25
TOP
![Exceptional Painting of a Tattooed Man by Fred Marquand [Folk Art - Outsider - Mobiloil]](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/8798/423739/235851201_1_x.jpg?height=300&quality=70&version=1783362544)
![Native American and Victory Girl Tattoo Designs by Bert Grimm [Folk Art - Outsider] (St. Louis, ca.](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/8798/423739/235851150_1_x.jpg?height=300&quality=70&version=1783362544)
![Cabinet Card of Tattoo Artist Lew "The Jew" Alberts [Harry Lawson - Pittsburgh - Bowery] (New York,](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/8798/423739/235851113_1_x.jpg?height=300&quality=70&version=1783362544)
![Pointing Finger Tattoo Shop Sign Painted by Erno [Trade Sign - Folk Art] (San Francisco, ca. 1990): Pointing Finger Tattoo Shop Sign Painted by Erno [Trade Sign - Folk Art] (San Francisco, ca. 1990) Hand-painted by tattoo artist Erno Szabady (1949-2007) and used in his shop in San Francisco and](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/8798/423739/235851111_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1783362544)
![Cabinet Card of Man Tattooed by Lew "The Jew" Alberts [Harry Lawson - Pittsburgh - Bowery] (New: Cabinet Card of Man Tattooed by Lew "The Jew" Alberts [Harry Lawson - Pittsburgh - Bowery] (New York, ca. 1905) Depicting waist-length view of a tattooed man, possibly tattoo artist Harry V. Lawson](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/8798/423739/235851112_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1783362544)
![Cabinet Card of Tattoo Artist Lew "The Jew" Alberts [Harry Lawson - Pittsburgh - Bowery] (New York,: Cabinet Card of Tattoo Artist Lew "The Jew" Alberts [Harry Lawson - Pittsburgh - Bowery] (New York, ca. 1905) Depicting Lew Alberts (1880-1954) tattooing a man, possibly a young Harry V. Lawson](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/8798/423739/235851113_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1783362544)
![Cabinet Card of Tattoo Artist Lew "The Jew" Alberts [Circus - Bowery - Jewish] (New York, ca. 1905): Cabinet Card of Tattoo Artist Lew "The Jew" Alberts [Circus - Bowery - Jewish] (New York, ca. 1905) Depicting Lew Alberts (1880-1954), real name Albert Kurzman, tattooing Philadelphia's William A.](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/8798/423739/235851114_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1783362544)
![Cabinet Card of Tattoo Artist "Painless" Jack Tryon [Bowery - Photograph - Sideshow] (New York, ca.: Cabinet Card of Tattoo Artist "Painless" Jack Tryon [Bowery - Photograph - Sideshow] (New York, ca. 1905) Depicting full-length front view of Halsey Jack Tryon (1885-1959), aka "Painless" Jack,](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/8798/423739/235851115_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1783362544)
![Photograph of Charlie Wagner Tattooing a Boy [Bowery - Tattoo], (New York, ca. 1920) 3 1/2 x 5 3/4: Photograph of Charlie Wagner Tattooing a Boy [Bowery - Tattoo] (New York, ca. 1920) Depicting famed Bowery tattoo artist Charlie Wagner (1875-1953) tattooing a remarkably young Andy Stuertz](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/8798/423739/235851116_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1783362544)
![Cabinet Card of Tattooed Lady Annie Howard [Photograph - Circus - Barnum - Bowery], (New York, ca.: Cabinet Card of Tattooed Lady Annie Howard [Photograph - Circus - Barnum - Bowery] (New York, ca. 1885) Photograph by Charles Eisenmann, Bowery, New York City, ca. 1885. Albumen print on white card](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/8798/423739/235851117_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1783362544)
![Cabinet Card of Tattooed Lady Annie Howard [Photograph - Circus - Barnum - Bowery], (New York, ca.: Cabinet Card of Tattooed Lady Annie Howard [Photograph - Circus - Barnum - Bowery] (New York, ca. 1885) Photograph by Charles Eisenmann, Bowery, New York City, ca. 1885. Albumen print on black card](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/8798/423739/235851118_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1783362544)
![Photo Postcard of Tattooed Boy Andy Stuertz [Bowery - Tattoo - RPPC] (New York, ca. 1920) 5 1/2 x 3: Photo Postcard of Tattooed Boy Andy Stuertz [Bowery - Tattoo - RPPC] (New York, ca. 1920) Depicting Andy Stuertz (1893-1962), tattooed by famed Bowery artist Charlie Wagner (1876-1953) when thirteen](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/8798/423739/235851119_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1783362544)
![Photo Postcard of Christ Head Tattoo on Huey Bowen [RPPC] (Detroit, ca. 1920) 5 1/2 x 3 1/2 in. (14: Photo Postcard of Christ Head Tattoo on Huey Bowen [RPPC] (Detroit, ca. 1920) Depicting Christ's head on the scalp of tattoo artist Hugh Bowen (1894-1970), aka Sailor Hughie. Bowen got his head](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/8798/423739/235851120_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1783362544)
![Postcard of Tattooed Lady Stella Grassman [RPPC - Tattoo] (Philadelphia, ca. 1930) 5 1/2 x 3 1/2 in.: Postcard of Tattooed Lady Stella Grassman [RPPC - Tattoo] (Philadelphia, ca. 1930) Depicting Edith "Stella" Grassman, tattooed by her husband Samuel "Deafy" Grassman (1889-1965), Philadelphia, ca.](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/8798/423739/235851121_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1783362544)
![Phil Sparrow's Chicago Tattoo Shop [Photograph - LGBTQ] (Chicago, ca.1956) 5 x 4 in. (12.7 x 10.2: Phil Sparrow's Chicago Tattoo Shop [Photograph - LGBTQ] (Chicago, ca.1956) Photograph of the storefront of Phil Sparrow's (1909-1993) tattoo shop, 655 South State Street, Chicago, Illinois, ca. 1956.](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/8798/423739/235851122_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1783362544)
![Paul Rogers' Tattoo Photo Scrapbook [Bowery - Dietzel - Archive] (American, 1910-1960) 14 x 1 x 11: Paul Rogers' Tattoo Photo Scrapbook [Bowery - Dietzel - Archive] (American, 1910-1960) Exceptional folio scrapbook compiled and maintained by Paul Rogers (1905-1990), containing approximately 90](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/8798/423739/235851123_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1783362544)
![Brose Massey Tattoo Artist Business Card [Tattoo - Trade Card - Ephemera] (America, ca. 1920) 1 1/2: Brose Massey Tattoo Artist Business Card [Tattoo - Trade Card - Ephemera] (America, ca. 1920) Used by Ambrose "Brose" Massey (1857-1937), probably Ohio, ca. 1920. Printed on card stock. 1 1/2 x 3 in.](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/8798/423739/235851124_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1783362544)

![Brose Massey Electric Tattooing Artist Business Card [Tattoo - Trade Card - Ephemera] (East: Brose Massey Electric Tattooing Artist Business Card [Tattoo - Trade Card - Ephemera] (East Liverpool, Ohio, ca. 1920) Used by Ambrose "Brose" Massey (1857-1937), 712 8th Street, East Liverpool,](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/8798/423739/235851126_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1783362544)

![Harold "Lefty" Liberty Tattoo Business Card [Trade Card - Ephemera], (Boston, ca. 1946) 2 x 3 1/2: Harold "Lefty" Liberty Tattoo Business Card [Trade Card - Ephemera] (Boston, ca. 1946) Used by tattoo artist Harold "Lefty" Liberty (1906-1985), 49 Scollay Square, Boston, Massachusetts, ca. 1946.](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/8798/423739/235851128_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1783362544)
![Frank Liberty Tattoo Business Card [Trade Card - Ephemera], (Portland, Maine, ca. 1935) 2 x 3 1/2: Frank Liberty Tattoo Business Card [Trade Card - Ephemera] (Portland, Maine, ca. 1935) Used by tattoo artist Frank W. Liberty (1904-1956), 430 Congress Street, Portland, Maine, ca. 1935. Printed on](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/8798/423739/235851129_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1783362544)
![Ernie Sutton Tattoo Artist Business Card [Trade Card - Ephemera] (Los Angeles, ca. 1955) 2 1/4 x 3: Ernie Sutton Tattoo Artist Business Card [Trade Card - Ephemera] (Los Angeles, ca. 1955) Used by tattoo artist Ernie Sutton (1912-1967), 507 1/2 South Main Street, Los Angeles, California, ca. 1955.](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/8798/423739/235851130_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1783362544)

![Ted Liberty Tattoo Artist Business Card [Trade Card - Ephemera] (Vancouver, ca. 1960) 2 3/4 x 4 1/4: Ted Liberty Tattoo Artist Business Card [Trade Card - Ephemera] (Vancouver, ca. 1960) Used by tattoo artist Ted Liberty (1912-1976), 175 East Hastings St., Vancouver, Canada, ca. 1960. Double-sided](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/8798/423739/235851132_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1783362544)
!["Sailor" George Fosdick Tattoo Studio Business Card [Trade Card] (Seattle, ca. 1935) 2 x 3 1/2 in.: "Sailor" George Fosdick Tattoo Studio Business Card [Trade Card] (Seattle, ca. 1935) Used by "Sailor" George Fosdick (1885-1946), 423 Second Avenue, Seattle, Washington, ca. 1935. Double-sided with a](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/8798/423739/235851133_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1783362544)
!["Sailor" Ralph Bayon Tattoo Artist Business Card [Bowery - Trade Card - Ephemera] (New York, ca.: "Sailor" Ralph Bayon Tattoo Artist Business Card [Bowery - Trade Card - Ephemera] (New York, ca. 1940) Used by tattoo artist Ralph Bayon, New York, ca. 1940. Printed on card stock. 2 x 3 1/2 in. (5.1](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/8798/423739/235851134_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1783362544)
