An exhaustingly thorough, lavishly illustrated collection of historical records of tattooing throughout the world, from ancient times to the present. Collected together in one place for the first time are texts by explorers, journalists, physicians, psychiatrists, anthropologists, scholars, novelists, criminologists and tattoo artists. A brief essay by Gilbert sets each chapter in an historical context. Includes references at the end of each section. The author is a medical illustrator and freelance writer with a lifelong interest in tattooing.