True Love

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TRUE LOVE 160 unique tattoo images hand-picked from the Schiffmacher Collection

ATM Publishing

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TRUE LOVE 'Tattoos last longer than romances' is an old school tattoo shop sign. The true love design is, of course, a fool’s tattoo. Many a wearer of a romantic tattoo will eventually hear the reproachful words: ‘I told you, you shouldn’t have done it, you’re gonna regret it’, and so on.

A tattoo, dear reader, is a sign of adventure and in our Western society there are hardly any good reasons to get one. We don’t need to show the hostile native tribe next door who we are. We don’t need a painful initiation ritual to step into the adult world. We don’t need it in our afterlife or to ward off bad spirits. The only thing we need a tattoo for is to communicate: to tell the world what we think, to give a clear message of love or hate, lust or fear.

These little books published by the Amsterdam Tattoo Museum all have their own theme. The designs are hand-picked treasures from our huge collection, designs made by the late and great legends of our proud and wonderful tattoo history, designs from every corner of the world. True love is for the romantics among us, and testifies to dedication, loyalty and love for someone. Sometimes people are adorned with a romantic tattoo to prove to themselves that these feelings are actually real. Strangely enough they are often seen on the skin of those who are sworn to fun and loyal to none. For them, true love is often a momentary experience, not necessarily a lifelong dedication, meant well and never regretted. Cheers to those who had and have the guts to wear them and celebrate the love of their life, even if there is more than one. Love is a big thing. You can’t see it or hold it in your hands but yes, you can wear it on your skin!

At last, I’d like to dedicate this treasure to my own true love Louise.

Yours truly,

Henk, Hanky Panky, Schiffmacher

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Adam Guyot Santa Clarita, California (US) 1997

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Charlie Wagner New York (US) 1910s

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Percy Waters Detroit (US) 1920s

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Milton Zeis Rockford, Illinois (US) 1940s

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D.L. Boucher (US) 1950s

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Milton Zeis Rockford, Illinois (US) 1940s

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D.L. Boucher (US) 1950s

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Unknown

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G. Wesley Worksop (UK) 1960s

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G. Wesley Worksop (UK) 1960s

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Charlie ‘Malta’ Parnis Malta 1910s

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G. Wesley Worksop (UK) 1960s

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Milton Zeis Rockford, Illinois (US) 1940s

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G. Wesley Worksop (UK) 1960s

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Unknown (US)

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Milton Zeis Rockford, Illinois (US) 1950s

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Les Skuse Bristol (UK) 1950s

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Les Skuse Bristol (UK) 1950s

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L. Richter (US) 1940s

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Danny Skuse Bristol (UK) 1970s

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Doc Price Plymouth (UK) 1978