This rare original hand-painted flash sheet by the late, great Bob Shaw was given to world famous tattooist Jonathan Shaw by Bob Shaw at the legendary Bert Grimm tattoo studio on the Long Beach Pike.
Bob Shaw, a contemporary of Sailor Jerry Collins, was one of the greatest and most prolific legends in modern tattoo history. Born in 1926, Shaw began his long, influential tattoo career as a teenager. Over the following decades, after tattooing around military bases all over the South, he partnered up with his Uncle, the great Bert Grimm, where he and Grimm opened what is today the oldest existing tattoo studio in America.
Bob Shaw's clean, distinctive tattoo flash painting style has served as an inspiration to generations of world-class tattooists. This piece with its vibrant colors and crisp line work is in pristine condition and looks as if it was painted yesterday - despite being near half a century old.
Painted in the mid 1970s, this one-of-a-kind original flash sheet by one of tattoo history's most important pioneers comes from the collection of world famous tattoo artist, Jonathan Shaw. It is part of the renowned archives of classic tattoo artwork featured in Shaw's ongoing book series Vintage Tattoo Flash published on Powerhouse Books. It measures 15" x 20" and comes with a hand-written Certificate of Authenticity from Shaw upon request. (Bob Shaw photo for reference only - not included with purchase of sheet).
Signed copies of Jonathan Shaw's VINTAGE TATTOO FLASH books can be ordered on Ebay.
NOTE: Original antique tattoo flash sheets like the one shown here have been increasing in value at an extraordinary rate over the last decade. And with the growing interest in tattoo art in the mainstream art world, there is no end in sight - making this a very solid investment for the forward-thinking collector. Bottom line: there's only so much of this kind of priceless artwork in existence - and they ain't making no more! Soon enough they will all be unobtainable and sitting in museums.
This beautiful original vintage tattoo flash sheet is a one-of-a-kind example of classic American tattoo art.
Feel free to make an offer.
Read more about Bob Shaw in an intimate interview with Jonathan Shaw online
Read more about the Jonathan Shaw Collection of Vintage Tattoo Flash online.
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All reasonable offers will be considered and responded to. Thank you!